A decade or two ago, fried pickles were a rare sight to see on a restaurant’s menu – more bar food than anything else. But today, the fried pickle has gone decidedly mainstream. You can still find it in bars, but also at fast food joints, fast casual eateries and even full-service sit-yourself-down-and-stay-awhile restaurants.
When you have a hankering for fried pickles, the choices around Ashburn are seemingly endless. But here are five that jumped out at us and are sure to satisfy.
Texas Roadhouse (image at top)
19990 Riverside Commons Plaza, Ashburn
texasroadhouse.com
The textbook golden-fried pickle. Texas Roadhouse serves up a basket of thinly sliced chips, covered in a secure batter that doesn’t slide off into your lap. It comes with a creamy ranch dipping sauce – or if you’re feeling wild a Cajun sauce with a little zing is available, too.
Ted’s Bulletin
20416 Exchange St., Ashburn
tedsbulletin.com
Ted’s Bulletin serves up fried pickle chips that are cut a bit on the thick side and then coated with plenty of golden batter. The crispy tangy snack comes with a side of heat – namely the restaurant’s buffalo ranch dipping sauce.
Burger 21
43800 Central Station Drive, No. 100, Ashburn
burger21.com
Burger 21 bills its fried pickles as “dill-liciously perfect” and we have to give them points for being punny. The fried pickles at Burger 21 are served with a side of the restaurant’s signature 21 Sauce. But others such as Thai Ketchup, Ragin’ Cajun and Chipotle Mayo are available too.
Alamo Drafthouse
20575 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn
drafthouse.com
The fried pickles at the Alamo Drafthouse are a bit on the controversial side – they are breaded and fried pickle spears rather than the more common sliced pickle chips. You can’t pop the whole thing in your mouth at once like you can a chip – or at least you shouldn’t. Let the debate rage on over which format – chip or spear – is better!
Wayback Burgers
43670 Greenway Corporate Drive, Ashburn
waybackburgers.com
Wayback Burgers – often still called by its old name “Jake’s Wayback Burgers” – gets in on the pun action by saying that its fried pickles are a big “dill” versus a big “deal.” Coated in a crunchy batter, the pickle chips at Wayback are served with the most traditional of accompaniments – a little ramekin of ranch.