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Takoma (Red)
Mon-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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We found ourselves in Takoma Park on a Saturday morning, and wanted to get some brunch. A friend who had just moved to the neighborhood suggested a middle eastern buffet place next door to Mark's, that nobody was really looking forward to at 10:30am.
Friend: Aren't there any brunch places in TKP?
Me: I looked on yelp, but nothing came up under "brunch"
Favorite Dining Companion: Then why does this whole block smell like bacon?
Me: Oh, hmm.
**We see Mark's Kitchen, beaming through the rain in all of its breakfast-y radiance**
We were seated right away, even though our fourth wasn't yet with us. We all ended up with a variation of the same egg meal, but the pancakes that went past looked and smelled amazing. Delicious eggs, cheap bill, prompt coffee refills, tons of veggie/vegan options. This place is legit. Brunch brunch brunch (just making sure it will come up in a search).
So as my husband and I are strolling through the adorable little township of Takoma Park, we noticed that there were a plethora of restaurants...all of which were pretty empty. As the farmers market was in full swing, this was pretty much expected - until we came upon Mark's Kitchen. The place was packed. To the gills. With a line out front. Patiently waiting. Wow. Really?
Intrigued and hungry, my husband and I promptly queue up. He looks at the menu, I slyly glance through the Yelp reviews on my phone. Heh. We're a hilarious couple. Like Abbott and Costello only with cuter shoes. Oh, and I'm *so* not the fat one. OK, I am...but let a girl have her illusions, OK? Despite the line and the packed house, we actually get a table within 10 minutes. Pretty impressive. We sit down, and although it's clear that this is an eclectic, mildly schizophrenic hot mess - the rapt look on the customers' faces told us that it will at least be a GOOD hot mess.
The menu can't seem to decide what it is. Practically any dish can be made into vegetarian. Definitely no fear of tofu. The breakfast menu reads a bit like a greasy spoon - only disturbingly healthy. The regular menu seems a little better, and half the dishes are Korean based. My husband and I took a look at each other and snorted at the thought of having an egg-white tofu omelette for breakfast, and we went with the galbi, and the bi bim bop (vegetarian, as a nod toward their forte), and a side dish of kimchi.
Sadly, my bi bim bop didn't come in a sizzling hot stone bowl, so my rice couldn't form that delicious crispy crunchy crust - but then, I really wasn't expecting it. The bi bim bop was actually quite good. The sauce was mildly spicy, but was flavorful enough to mix well with the fresh and crisp veggies. The consistency of the rice was a little odd, definitely way more mushy then was called for. My husband's galbi was tasty. We've definitely had better galbi, but considering that Mark's Kitchen isn't a KBBQ joint, it was respectable. Surprisingly, the star of my husband's dish was the broccoli, which were cold, and tossed lightly in a fragrant dressing of sesame oil.
The service was slow, however, it was to be expected as the dining room was packed, with a line going out the door. I can see why Mark's Kitchen is such a popular spot here in Tacoma Park. I wouldn't go out of my way to dine here, however, if I'm in the Tacoma Park area - Mark's Kitchen will be at the top of my list to grab a refreshing bite to eat.
I'm not a creature of habit, but somehow Mark's Kitchen manages to make me forget that for a blissful 10-15 minutes a couple lunches per week. If you only remember one thing from today, please make sure that one thing is 'chicken teriyaki and avocado club sandwich'. I really want to order other things when I go to Mark's, but I just can't. On top of being one of the best effing sandwiches I've ever had (and I'm usually not a fan of club sandwiches), it comes with the perfect portion of sweet, home-made cole slaw, and some boiled sweet potatos, deliciously seasoned with toasted sesame seeds and a ginger-orange sauce. It is always good.
But the one thing that makes Mark's tower far above your typical innovative Korean-American diner is this: Mozart's Balls, Mozartkugeln. I rest my case.
It's not just for beatniks. Ignore the gritty atmosphere and enjoy the food at Mark's Kitchen - if there are any seats available. It's usually packed - for good reason. I try something new every time I go: yummy vegetarian dishes, chicken teriyaki, terrific sandwiches, and perfect breakfast bites. Nearly every time, it has been very, very good. And, on the weekend, enjoy the farmer's market a half a block away. All in all, a great way to experience Takoma Park. Ya know?
Some places just can't be beat, and Mark's is one of them. I was just perusing the reviews and wishing I could go there right now to try some of the things I haven't yet.
Here's what I know: Mung bean pancakes--mmmm I could eat a bushel of these. The stuffed acorn squash is soooo much tastier than it sounds. The sweet potatoes that come as a side with many dishes are garnished with black pumpkin seeds - always delicious. The fact that my vegetarian husband is happy - priceless.
Service is always friendly, but it can get slow when busy. The place is sometimes packed, but they always seem to find us a seat and when it is really busy, Mark makes a point of helping you find a place to sit and make you feel like you're wanted while you are waiting.
I've been with the kids, and it is no problem. The servers are friendly and don't get annoyed. Heck, it's Takoma Park - everyone is friendly there!
Enjoy the community atmosphere with bulletin boards and flyers from various granola-esque service providers (yoga, meditation, music instruction, you know). Grab something to go from the make-shift gourmet convenience store in the middle of the room - foreign chocolates and cookies, etc.
Not the same old same old - even if it sounds like it. For example - if you like to get egg and… Read more »
A special place to grab an especially delicious meal in TKP. Thanks for bringing delightfully healthful vegetarian (and meaty) meals, Mark!
My sweetie loves the vegetarian Bibimbap, while I always go with a veg soup and the spinach tofu cakes. Yum!
Bakery and tea sets are also sold here.
Note that the bathroom is up the stairs and around the corner, in the back of the store. It's clean but not accessible for people who struggle with stairs.
Mark's Kitchen, why do I love thee?
Let me count the ways...
~Your incredibly friendly wait staff
~Your incredibly tasty ginger sundae (ginger bread, ginger ice cream, ginger sauce... yum)
~Your incredibly tasty ginger milkshakes (this is a place for ginger-lovers)
~Your bi bim bop served with super-spicy sauce
~Your tofu avocado club that I make all my friends try, and that none of them believe is vegan.
~Your all-around "Takomaness" ... Mark's Kitchen is quintessential Takoma Park
~Your location, which is a convenient half-mile walk from my house. Lucky, lucky me.
I'm going to have to admit that I had never been to Takoma Park until tonight. Considering that I am a D.C. / MD native, its pretty sad, and I almost was afraid to admit it here. Oh well.
Well, for starters the area surrounding Mark's Kitchen, is awesome. It really has that small town feel to it, with the nicely painted single family home with front porches and small yards. Everything I had ever heard about TP was right on the money. It has lots of small art stores, craft stores, herbal and organic food aplenty.
I came with my veggetarian girlfriend, who often doesn't have many options when it comes to eating out (unless of course its Italian food). That was FAR from the case tonight. Green squares marked the items that were vegetarian, which seemed like half the menu.
And as a precursor to our meal...we went all out. I mean all out. Drinks, an appetizer, big dinners and dessert. Not one to share, but two. You only live once.
Drinks: Iced Ginger Tea, which clearly had fresh ginger in it. And a carrot juice (not a fan, but very fresh).
Meal:
-Mung Bean Pancakes to start. They were super moist and the side sauce was a perfect compliment to the red peppers, cabbage and onions.
-Pagoda Special - this was truly a an awesome dish (gf's order). It was served on a long narrow plate, in truly stunning fashion. Cut up strawberries were at the ends followed by small mounds of brown rice. Straddling the edges of the plate was asparagus. In the center was a Tofu, Tempura Eggplant, Potato and mixed veggies (sauce, sort of like an Asian ratatouille) tower. Yes, a tower.
-Bi bim bop w/ Korean steak - awesome dish, so fresh with all the veggies and rice. The spicy bean paste sauce reminds me of a more high quality sirachia sauce (don't get me wrong, i love that stuff).
Dessert:
A slice of pecan pie and a red velvet cupcake. Mmmm, delicious.
The Service: Spectacular. I dont know how many people came by the take things away, tell us about the specials, sat us, and took the check. Probably about 3 or 4. They were friendly, accommodating, and quick.
The place wasn't too crowded, so the whole meal under an hour. And to top if off, the prices are incredibly cheap. This whole massive feast was under $40 before tip. Definitely going to be added to the list of "where to get dinner if I don't want to cook" list.
If it wasn't obvious already, i will most certainly be back. Many, many times.
This place was packed on Friday night, while the middle eastern restaurant next door was comparatively empty, so we were a little worried about getting seating for 10 people. This turned out not to be a problem. The staff there were really accommodating and made it possible as they saved tables as other diners were vacating. The atmosphere there is that of a neighborhood diner/cafe. It was nothing fancy, just really friendly. We didn't feel out of place as the toddler in our party was flinging food around and batting a balloon.
As far as food goes, there's a really vast selection to please both vegetarians and carnivores, and was a mix of regular diner food and Korean dishes. I had their bulgogi which came with some of their purple rice, bean sprouts kim chi, and steamed veggies and it was all pretty good. The other people in my group enjoyed theirs as well: everything from Korean curry to club sandwiches. The only complaint was that the portions were a bit small for some of the more heartier eaters.
Overall, a nice experience.
Wow, Mark's made me a very happy camper. First because they had SO many choices for me (having recently started eating a generally vegan diet this is quite a rarity), and second because everything was so good!!
The menu boasted many vegan options, including (that I can remember) vegan lasagan, spinach tofucakes, cold ginger noodles, to name a few. However, I went with the Avocado and Tofu Club, since the others all seemed like slightly more typical vegan options, and it's been a long time since I've just been able to order a good sandwich! And man was it good. SOOO good. Avocado, grilled tofu, vegan cream cheese, veggie bacon, tomato... all on a double decker toasted rye bread sandwich. Aside from not being able to really get my mouth around the whole thing, it was amazing! The fries served with it were excellent as well, the coleslaw was ordinary to not-so-great.
After dinner we turned to the idea of dessert, which again is usually a non-starter at this point. But Mark's has an entire blackboard full of vegan cake and pie offereings, as well as soy milkshakes. I was disappointed that they didn't have any soy ice cream, so I hope that was just a one time thing and not something offered on the menu that they don't really have. But the 2 cakes we tried, cookies & cream and orange dreamsicle, were both great. I wouldn't say they were anything to write home about, more like cakes out of a cake mix box, but still - to have all those vegan choices was so awesome, and they were certainly tasty enough.
I know all I've written about is the vegan offerings, but there were plenty of things to satisfy anyone's diet. Meat eaters, vegetarians... they've got it all. And all with a Korean twist to the menu. It's awesome.
The service was great, if a bit odd. The waitress came over the moment we sat down expecting us to know what we wanted to order before she even handed us menus! I guess this just speaks to their repeat clientele. :) Before I could manage to decide at least 2 other servers came over to ask for our orders, as well as our original waitress returning.
The atmosphere was great - complete hole-in-the-wall, there-for-the-great-food kinda casual atmosphere and people.
I will absolutely be back. I only wish there was one closer to me!!! We must convince them to open a location up 270. :-)
We get dinner at Mark's when we can't decide what we're cooking, don't feel like making a big event out of dinner and I want tofu/something vegetarian. (though the korean beef is good too).
Great menu, love the dumplings, the ginger tea is awesome but, I have to say, I wish there was a little less salt in their soy sauce. I can only assume they use "full sodium" soy sauce instead of reduced.
It seems to be a team serviing operation most times we're there which is a curse and blessing. Sometimes you may have 3 people try to take your order and others, no one knows who has you. For the most part, it works out a-okay.
A great place for vegetarian greatness. Come for Sunday brunch and get the spinach tofucakes. It 's the best thing on the menu, although I rarely order anything else. I prefer the salad style moreover than the breakfast platter. Depending on the mood and timing, let's say after 11 am, you can get it salad style. It's a great combination of mixed greens, brown rice, mango, dressing and spinach cake goodness. I can't get enough of it and when I am done, I can't believe that I ate the whole darn thing. I usually have to go outside to the farmer's market and walk it off.
I have also been going to this place for over 15 years, back when Trish and Carol where the main waitresses. I still go at least every two weeks.
Mark's is a special place. Great tasting food, and wonderful variety of dishes, especially vegetarian. They even do soy shakes, along with fresh fruit and vegetable juices. I always get the steamed man doo. I love the veggie curry. They have a good selection of desserts too. Anything off their menu is tops and always fresh with quick delivery. 10% off to Vegetarian Society of DC members.
The place can get very busy, especially during the weekend afternoon hours, when there can be a short wait. They like to get you in an out. Only complaint is the portions are kind of small. I am always hungry a few hours later. It is a tightly packed place with tables that are close together. Would love to see them expand a bit. I miss the option of having fresh garlic added to one's juice.
Twelve... as in the number of Priuses (or would the correct pluralization be Priui?) that drove past while I was waiting for my dining companion to join me at Mark's Kitchen. I was not surprised to see the eco-minded citizens driving hybrid cars, peddling recumbent bicycles through downtown Takoma Park, or the separate garbage cans for recyclable items since this city is the liberal bastion of Montgomery County. Mark's Kitchen is a natural fit in this environment. Juxtaposed next to the "Zagat Rated" (someone needs to send them a Yelp version)sticker in the window, are also community notices with items ranging from artistic events to lost pets.
We arrived around 7:30-ish and were promptly seated. While the place never really got crowded, there was always a steady stream of diners and large groups attesting to its popularity. The diverse clientele which resembled a Benetton ad, featured parents wearing Crocs with kids in tow, along with teenagers sipping on fruit smoothies. The interior is very unpretentious and reminds me more of a diner/cafeteria with faux marble tables, relaxed wooden chairs, and daily specials written on a chalk board behind the counter.
The food is outstanding and it's really great that this place has extensive vegetarian options. The menu is HUGE and I think we annoyed our server since it took us a while to decide from the various yummy choices. I ordered the veggie bi bam bap and she had the tofu club. The miso soup which accompanied my meal was as expected and rivaled what I have tasted at sushi restaurants. I've only previously eaten bi bam bap with the traditional egg and sliced beef, but I really enjoyed the veggie version as well. The brown rice mixed with the shitake mushrooms, carrots, watercress, and tofu was excellent especially mixed with the spicy bean paste sauce. Her triple decker sandwich looked equally appetizing and judging by the "mmmm' after each bite, this is something I'll have to try the next time I visit. We ended the meal with slices of vegan cookies and cream and orange dreamsicle cake. I don't know what the chefs use as binder, but both cakes were super moist and extremely flavorful and I never knew a cake this good could be prepared without eggs or dairy.
I also ordered a iced ginger tea and liked how the flecks of fresh ginger infused and added spice to the green tea. There is also a hot (as in temperature)lemonade that I want to try next time since I haven't had this beverage since I left Texas.
I hope owner Mark Choe opens an outpost in Virginia since the Commonwealth needs a place like this; that and I don't want to have to drive so far. While there may be some question about the viability of a "hippie" place like this surviving south of the Mason-Dixon line, Virginia did vote Democrat in the 2008 presidential election and will be banning smoking in bars/restaurants later this year, so I guess anything is possible.
Food: I was really surprised to discover how expensive Mark's food is given its modest location and appearances, and the small portion sizes it dished out. The crab and broccoli sandwich that my friend ordered, though very tasty, was meager at best. I felt like I was eating a child-sized sandwich. The sandwich didn't come with anything either. I ordered a turkey burger, which tasted a little bland and was accompanied by a tablespoon of coleslaw and some under-seasoned sweet potato fries. The smoothies tasted watered down. The menu was vast and varied, so I wonder if I just ordered wrong. Or maybe, it's not worth the trip unless I know I want a vegetarian meal, which seems to be what Mark's is known for.
Service: A little slow, but nice.
Atmosphere: Old school. Diner-esque and tables close together. Let's just say they don't try very hard to make it feel 'homey'. P.S. What's up with the slick website? Totally doesn't match the atmosphere.
Love this place. Great American Diner / Korean fusion. If that sounds funny, well, it works, trust me. The food is delicious and healthy, and makes no compromise on either of those facets.
It's expensive though, so I rarely ever go there.
I sort of imagine it as a great neighborhood diner for people who make $80k or more a year.
I'm pretty sure I don't like sitting so close to my neighbors while I eat. In fact I'm certain. That' s the thing about Mark's Kitchen you are elbow to elbow with your neighbors. While it may foster nice conversations I definitely couldn't wait to eat and get out.
Now we went for the breakfast food. I got banana pancakes and a side of ham. Well ham means pan fried slices of deli meat. Umm no....just yuck. I was so disappointed and wished I had gotten sausage even veggie sausage would have been better. The lunch menu was so cluttered I couldn't even take a gander.
We went here for breakfast. It was great! Fast, inexpensive, tasty, and the staff was nice. As some people have mentioned, the tables were really close together, but Takoma Parkians (or perhaps "The good people of Takoma Park" or maybe TP'ers? No, I suppose they wouldn't appreciate that) are generally pleasant, so I don't think this is too bad.
Anyway, the menu (for breakfast) wasn't long, but it had all the staples, and plenty of vegetarian options. As for the food, it's kind of hard to mess up breakfast, and they've managed not to here as well. The juices were good, and the ginger tea was great. Strong and tasty.
The best thing about this place was the atmosphere. Friendly staff, and an open kitchen, where you could see your food being prepared, like a diner.
The BEST! I don't know what it is about this place that makes me love it so much, but I can't help it! It hasn't changed in the 10 years I've been coming here - same wait staff (for the most part) and same owner. You don't come here for the decor, you come here for community and good, fresh, "real" food. It's a staple of Takoma Park and I wish they had more locations in DC!
Killer milkshakes, great Korean food and things like burgers done well with a healthy twist. Great for families, catching up and just enjoying yourself.
After dining w/ Roy, the island stud the night before, we headed to dine w/ Mark, the Korean hippie the next morning. The surprises continued as this time, my wife's small group from church was there to crash our breakfast. Sweet for her, good for me since I get to Yelp more dishes. :-P
Food - This was the first time we came here for breakfast and though it was good, it wasn't anything impressive. All breakfasts are served w/ your choice of grits/home fries and toast/English muffin. The wife ordered the smoked salmon breakfast ($8.95) - several slices of lox topped w/ capers and red onions. The other girls ordered the shiitake mushroom omelet and the spinach & spring onion omelet ($6.95). All of these dishes were standard breakfast fare and didn't have the hippie, granola twist that Mark's dishes are usually served with, e.g., granola in the grits, green tea in the eggs, a little hemp on the lox. Based on these foods, I'd give it 3 stars.
Being her BDay celebration, the wife ordered the OJ ($3.25), which she wouldn't have ordered otherwise b/c you can pretty much buy a bunch of oranges for that price. Maybe we're uncultured, but we enjoy our Tropicana Pure Premium w/ Calcium + Vitamin D and its 40g of added sugar more than we did this $3 juice that tasted like oranges. Technically, aren't you fresh-squeezing oranges in your mouth when you eat them?
The 4th star is b/c of the chicken teriyaki omelet ($6.95) - come on, did you expect ME to order a veggie dish for breakfast? Unlike IHOP or Pancake House, Mark's has spicy chili peppers, and topping the omelet with it created quite a breakfast treat. If you're into Asian flavors, you should give it a try for breakfast. They also had Tabasco sauce for my eggs. Mmmmmm...spicy breakfasts!
Service - Friendly, as usual. Mark was there and we said hi. He's such a cute Korean hippie.
Location - Just a random note about Takoma Park. We got an unbelievable parking spot, but I found it odd that people were putting out lawn chairs and blankets in the morning for fireworks - must be some fireworks show, I thought. Just as we finished our breakfast, we found out that Takoma Park has a 4th of July parade and it began and we were trapped. The parade was really cute for 45 minutes, but it dragged on and on and on and on and on for a total of 2 hours. So if you find a sweet parking spot and no other cars are parked anywhere near you, move!
This is my wife's favorite place to eat. While certainly not on my list of top places to eat, it is… Read more »
Living in Silver Spring, I've been to Mark's Kitchen a number of times now to indulge in some healthy and/or veggie cooking. Every time has exceeded my expectations. The last time I went, I got the spinach tofucakes, and the plate was divine. It came loaded with vegetables like sweet potato cuts and asparagus. Very delicious. Plus I ordered a "homemade" lemonade, and it truly was made on the spot after I ordered it. It was very refreshing, as it was not overly sweet as lemonade tends to be at lesser establishments. Overall very wonderful experiences here...will be going back often!
God damn, I love fresh squeezed orange juice.
Sunday, we went there for a bit to eat after perusing the Takoma farmer's market (thanks to the recommendations of Yelpers). We got lucky and were seated right away (there were, at times, a number of folks waiting on the sidewalk). So, the two of us ordered: Asparagus omelet with havarti dill, veggie omelet, side bacon, side sausage. Everything was great! The asparagus was tender and flavorful -- not a tough stem in the lot. The eggs were nicely cooked, the cheese fully melted, and overall it was just damned yummy. The bacon was crisp without being at all burnt and tasted fantastic. Sausage, also great. We both had fresh juice, and while I would have liked those drinks to be colder, I soooo love fresh juice.
Service -- fantastic. They appear to do a tag-team system, whereby people deliver food when it's ready, bring drinks when they're ready, etc., created a lovely parallel service architecture that gets food out more quickly, etc. The staff were very friendly, took a moment to ask if we needed anything when they came by, but didn't bother us while we were eating. And, all this came out to just under $30 (pre-tip). That, in my opinion, is a great deal. I've paid comparable amounts for brunch in Dupont, and it wasn't nearly as good. I suspect Mark's will be a standard stop for us if/when we move to Takoma Park...
Mark's is my favorite of all the restaurants in TP, where I have lived for the past two years. Its the place I am most likely to take people who are visiting from out of town for brunch and also where I like to go by myself with a book for a quick dinner. The staff are friendly as are the rest of the patrons (especially if you are from the neighborhood, so you basically will run into everyone you know).
The ginger burger is unlike any other food I have ever tried but amazingly delicious. I would never have thought pickled ginger should be anywhere near a hamburger but the two were made for one another.
The side dishes are pretty sensational. The options are very widespread from the traditional fries to kim-chee and roasted seaweed (my favs).
I highly recommend it.
This place kicks total ass.
When I am hungry,
and I am a vegetarian
and my sister lives right in the neighborhood,
this place is AWESOME.
Frickin' good shakes, too.
Get a Green Tea Ginger shake.
Its really good.
Came here for breakfast on Sunday and had to comment on the french toast. They offer egg replacer for 50 cents more with your choice of bread. Brioche french toast is EXCELLENT here. I was in love. The bff and I shared a portion (3 huge slices for 5 bucks), he ate his with syrup, I ate mine with ketchup, and it was awesome! Made me remember how much I love french toast.
Can get a little crowded sometimes, but the food is great. Breakfast is awesome- tofu scamble is… Read more »
YUMMMMMMMMMMM. If you are vegetarian, PLEASE do yourself a favor and order the tofu club on sourdough, and think of me while you eat it. It's almost worth flying east for it alone. Service was great, food was phenomenal (asparagus fried rice, anyone?), and I cannot wait to go back. Oh, the fries sucked - fat, greasy, and you get about five - but I shouldn't be eating fries anyhow, and everything else more than made up for them. Even my carnivorous brother enjoyed it. Highly recommend!
great price, great service, and a great selection esp for vegetarians!!!
the tofu & avocado sandwich was amazing..
heard their turkey burgers were very good as well.
This place is going to rival Kirsten's Cafe in Silver Spring for my new favorite place for breakfast!
We had a difficult time deciding what to order. The fresh squeezed orange juice was fantastic! Next time, I think I'll go for a juice blend (orange/strawberry, maybe?).
We both had omelets. My friend had cheese and bacon and I had cheese and mushrooms. They were hot off the grill and had that Mel's diner kinda look to them: brown spots from grilling--that's a good thing! I only deducted a star b/c I was overcharged by $1.25 for my omelet, but I didn't say anything because, well, our waitress was so darn nice and helpful in her recommendations. Her first offer of advice was the spinach tofucakes which did not go over well with my breakfast companion.
I think we made the right choices. Next time I'll try the waffles and maybe, just maybe, the tofu cakes.
The drink selection here is amazing -- they even have the little glass bottles of apple juice. I could have spent $10 on drinks alone.
I really like the neighborhood-feel of this place. Even during my first visit, I could sense that this is a local favorite.
The vegetarian menu is quite impressive, with much more than just a veggie burger. They have veggie curry and a huge tofu sandwich that looked intimidatingly good on my husband's plate.
I didn't even mind that the service wasn't too great. It was good enough to make me want to come back again.
I even bought a Mark's coffee thermos -- they have them in all sorts of appealing colors.
Just moved to the area and was in desperate need of a local breakfast place to satisfy my husband, a self-professed pancake connoisseur.
On my friend's recommendation we gave Mark's a spin and were not disappointed. My husband enjoyed his banana pancakes, and I found my omelet/potatoes/toast very tasty. Everything was fresh (no "old grill" taste on the potatoes) and the portions were perfect - enough to fill you up but not so much that food goes to waste.
We will definitely be back.
I ate at Mark's recently for breakfast and dinner. Both times the food was delicious. The food is comfort food; it just makes you feel good. However, it wasn't normal comfort food, at least for me. This makes it even better, because it gives you the 'comfort food' feeling with new dishes, instead of worn-out dishes (read, meatloaf, which I love).
Go there, just not too often. I don't want this place to become too popular, because then I won't be able to get a table.
So good, and good for you. This restaurant has a nice diner feel without the grease. We were in Takoma Park today (before the snow) and ducked in for lunch. The staff sat us as soon as they could..it being Sunday it was a bit crowded due to the overlap of peeps still eating breakfast and some just coming in for lunch.
I had the spinach tofu cakes with brown rice. Totally yummy. My hubby had the chicken avocado sandwich which he wolfed down (he was nice enough to offer me a few bites, though. The chai tea latte was really, really good.
So, why not four stars? No changing table in the women's bathroom. For a place that had so many families in it, they so need to add that to their restroom stuff.
I enjoy Mark's for a number of reasons, but probably the most overwhelming would be the cozy neighborhood vibe. It just seems to be everyone's favorite spot, and they're glad to be there and so I'm glad to be there! A close second would definitely be the drink menu- I think I could come here for a meal of drinks alone. Delicious smoothies, milkshakes and coffee combos to delight your taste buds.
On to the food- I wouldn't say the food is stand out amazing on it's own, but what I really enjoy is the healthful variety of what is on the menu. I like that I can come here with my veggie friends and they will be psyched, but anyone who isn't can also find something tasty on the menu.
It can certainly get busy on the weekends so beware, and there isn't too much room to stand inside when it does. But they are quick to clean the tables, and the service is good (although not particularly fast) once you actually sit down. What I enjoy most is the laid back feel of it all- even when it's busy, I like how they aren't itching for you to clear out so they can serve the next customer.
I've often heard Takoma Park, MD compared with Berkeley, CA. If you've spent any time in Berkeley, you'll know why no other town ever lives up to that comparison. Takoma Park, like Austin, TX before it is no Berkeley.
That said, I like Takoma Park and its rainbow flag-waving, diverse, Metro-accessible, free-spirited community vibe. While there's no Zachary's Pizza, there is a farmers market on Sunday.
And there's Mark's Kitchen!
Mark's and Takoma Park are synonymous in my mind. At breakfast this eclectic diner serves fresh squeezed juice, tasty pancakes and almost everything on the menu has a vegan option (think spinach tofucakes and veggie bacon.)
Despite the Japanese Kanji on the coffee mugs, Mark's Korean and apparently he serves up well-priced kalbi and bulgolgi for lunch & dinner (note to self: get back there and try soon!)
Mark's really captures the diverse and eclectic population of Takoma Park accurately. During our Sunday breakfast we had an elderly couple on one side, a young couple with a baby on the other and a single woman in front of us who talked to herself and occasionally watered the plants outside with her coffee.
I'll be back!
My only grievance? I wish Mark's would cut out the waste by offering butter and syrup in reusable dishes rather than single use plastic containers. Must be all that time spent in Berkeley. . . But really, who doesn't love an easy chance to conserve waste? Think about it, Mark! Kamsa-hamnida!
Great neighborhood eats; I'd even travel to TP from elsewhere to chow down at Mark's Kitchen. I had the tofu box, Anna got sesame noodles, and we split a spinach tofucake as an appetizer. Food was fresh and fantastic and our iced sencha green teas were refreshing.
The menu is extensive, covering Asian-type dishes, pasta, and even burgers. I look forward to coming back here for the vegan brunch and one of the crazy fruit/veggie juices.
Mark's Kitchen also sells bottled drinks and baked goods to go, so you can stop in and grab something to nosh as you're wandering the neighborhood. Check the front window bulletin board for neighborhood announcements, job listings, etc.
I've been here twice with friends, and the food's been very satisfying. As others have said, Mark's has a large menu that's split between Asian (mostly Korean) dishes and American food, with lots of vegetarian options.
The space is a little small and crowded, though, and it can be loud when it's crowded. I also wouldn't recommend coming with a party any larger than 4.
They also have a fairly good selection of desserts, including Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
Great local place to go for breakfast. Very neighborhoodishly hippy place. You'll see all kinds of customers.
Wide variety of fruits for freshly squeezed drinks and you can mix in different fruits if you want! The menu offers many standard fare breakfast dishes and has several healthy alternatives for vegan hippies.
Forewarning: The service is S-L-O-O-O-W!!! Servers seem overwhelmed all the time.
I still love the food here, and the staff is as kind as a cool breeze on a hot day. It's why I have been eating here since the early '90s.
But last night, I swear I could hear George Harrison crooning "All Things Must Pass" in my ear.
No, he wasn't providing a swan song for Mark's- but for my affair with the place.
It is rightfully popular, and I am happy they are getting all this business.
But it's become too small for the crowds.
And a kind of Chuck E. Cheese's for the progressive set. What I mean is that the place has no lack of little ones - some of whom wail like James Brown in his prime..
So if you don't mind having little Moonbeam running wild in very close quarters, then more power to ya...
As for me, "It's Time to Go Now".
I enjoyed a tasty breakfast here before heading to the farmer's market with my son. Pretty quick service, but had to wait a bit for the bill. Great location 3 blocks from the metro.
We found this place on Yelp while looking for a diner near the U. of Maryland... Seemed to have a nice enough neighborhood-type vibe, but it was very crowded and very hot that day. The food was pretty good - I had the eggs and smoked salmon and a banana shake - and the prices fair. The service was pretty good too, but, due to the crowds, a bit on the slow side (though if we weren't in a bit of a hurry, it would have been absolutely fine).
Some A/C would have been nice, and the branches of a not-very-strategically-placed tree kept hitting me in the head whenever I leaned back in my seat, but it sure beat the fast food joints we'd been hitting.
Takoma Park, MD
Category: Restaurants
Takoma Park, MD
Category: Bakeries
Wheaton, MD
Category: Korean
Kensington, MD
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Brookland
Category: Coffee & Tea
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