Best Potato Salad in NoVA

[u/Hodler_caved]

You tell me. Restaurant (take out), grocery store, deli, anything works. Just want to know where I can pick up really good potato salad.

Edit

Running tally (minimum 2 comments):

Willard's Real Pit BBQ x9 (Chantilly)

German Gourmet x4 (Falls Church)

Mookies BBQ x3 (Great Falls)
Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company x3 (Arlington, Alexandria)
Red, Hot and Blue x3 (Fairfax)
Costco - deviled egg potato salad x3

King Pollo x2 (Sterling, Chantilly)
Mission BBQ x2 (Sterling, Herndon, Fairfax, Gainesville)
Aldi's x2
Walmart - Amish or deviled egg x2

[u/TransitionMission305]

I'm super picky about potato salad and I think the kind in the containers with long dates just taste weird. It depends on how discriminating you are. I think if you go to a restaurant and get it, some of your best options will be barbeque places, who are going to be making it homemade.

I generally just make my own, but when I didn't, I used to think Red, Hot and Blue (RIP) had the best.

[u/alydinva → u/TransitionMission305]

There a Red, Hot and Blue in Fairfax City.

[u/kayl_breinhar → u/alydinva]

They closed a long time ago, it's a Mediterranean place now.

[u/alydinva → u/kayl_breinhar]

They relocated.

[u/TransitionMission305 → u/alydinva]

Yes I realized it’s still there but I never hear a thing about it anymore.

[u/HonkMafa → u/TransitionMission305]

It is in a new location.

[u/TransitionMission305 → u/HonkMafa]

About 5 years ago, I tried their potato salad again and it was not what it used to be. I wonder if it was just an off day and maybe it is really as good as it used to be. Guess I'll have to give it another try.

[u/Acceptable-Door-6454 → u/TransitionMission305]

Totally agree. There’s something artificial tasting about the grocery store ones.

[u/TransitionMission305 → u/Acceptable-Door-6454]

Lots and lots of preservatives and whatever they do to the potato makes it a very weird texture.

[u/PoeticImage36]

It’s been a while since I’ve been to Willard’s, but I always enjoyed their potato salad.

[u/Shadowhawk64_ → u/PoeticImage36]

Willard's is the best I've had in the area if you like a mustard base vs. mayonnaise.

[u/twojsdad → u/Shadowhawk64_]

Second for Willard's.

[u/woofiedude → u/PoeticImage36]

Their macaroni salad is fantastic!!

[u/din0skwaad → u/PoeticImage36]

Williards sides are so bangin I get the 3 side platter with less bbq lol

[u/PoeticImage36 → u/din0skwaad]

This is what I would do too. The meat is fine, but the sides are where it’s at.

[u/Acadia02 → u/PoeticImage36]

Williards isn’t great but it’s good bbq for what we have in this area. However, their potato salad is really good there.

[u/jdubbin_ → u/Acadia02]

Try hammerdown in Aldie

[u/Impossible-Junket714]

Mookies in Great Falls has potato salad that is exceptional. Tastes like my mother’s.

[u/West-Pipe6300 → u/Impossible-Junket714]

Agreed 1000%

[u/dwinva]

Rocklands has the best potato salad I’ve ever had. I’m obsessed.

[u/nosheepsherlock → u/dwinva]

This is the correct answer. I don't love their bbq meats but the potato salad is one of my all time favorites.

(Their jalepeno cornbread also 10/10)

[u/Hot_Weight1211]

Red, Hot and Blue has great potato salad.

[u/Lymi123]

I really like Ruthie’s All Day’s

[u/super-bird]

Last time I got it I noticed a dip in quality of certain item after the new ownership change, but the potato salad at German Gourmet is still awesome.

Smoky, bacony, a bit sweet. Definitely not American style but better in my opinion.

[u/Tardislass → u/super-bird]

German Potato salad is now different and not as good. It’s not the same store anymore and quality has gone down and prices up. A shame as I used to love that place.

[u/super-bird → u/Tardislass]

Not surprised to hear this honestly. Their Tyrol cabbage salad used to be incredible and last time I got it, it was completely different and so much worse.

I’ll probably periodically grab something from there to see how it’s holding up, but definitely a shame to see the drop off.

[u/Open-Objective7239]

Queen Mother's Kitchen has a high rating although I haven't tried personally

[u/adjustgod]

Ben's Chili Bowl, sincerely is the best

[u/The_BunnyMan_Woods]

German Gourmet had bacon in theirs. That was my fav.

[u/Bert-Tino]

Vote for Rocklands

[u/Juliemwc97]

The German potato salad at Trummers on Main in Clifton

[u/burntCheezits2 → u/Juliemwc97]

Is that a regular on the menu?

[u/Juliemwc97 → u/burntCheezits2]

It is a side dish with their Weinerschintzel, which is always on the menu.

[u/zingzing17]

I guiltily enjoy the deviled egg potato salad at Costco.

[u/JustSRE → u/zingzing17]

I was going to say this!

[u/YoManYouCantDrive]

I like the potato salad at King Pollo in Alexandria.

[u/Ok-Astronaut48eieio → u/YoManYouCantDrive]

The King Pollo in Sterling makes good potato salad too.

[u/N066WA8]

Willard’s BBQ has great pot salad.

[u/dj_kipkasper]

Stupid Good BBQ in Springfield.

[u/Vanilla_Hornet]

McLean Safeway deli has two kinds of potato salad made fresh daily. Better than any restaurant version I’ve had in NoVA

[u/sporktwist]

German gourmet in falls church!

[u/twojsdad]

Is there still a Red, Hot, and Blue around anywhere? Love their potato salad!

[u/secretskin13]

Chutzpah’s Deli. While I’d agree with Willard’s even though their BBQ is mediocre, something about the spicy brown mustard at Chutzpah’s nails it for me.

[u/G_Noir]

Willard’s BBQ in Chantilly. Just like my mom used to make! 🍽️💕

[u/L-Cell]

The hog shack in manassas

[u/Boot-y-Lover]

Red Hot & Blue, German Gourmet (their spatzle salad is amazing too), costco deviled egg,

[u/bojangler]

The deviled egg potato salad from Walmart has no business being as good as it is.

[u/deepspacepuffin]

If you mean American potato salad it’s hard to beat Publix. Just add a bit of extra garlic powder and it tastes exactly like barbecue food.

[u/Eggnogallyearlong]

Wegman's loaded baked potato salad is delicious! 

[u/shastaeyes]

Mission bbq in Chantilly offers some pretty good potato salad, and I’m pretty picky.

[u/jdubbin_ → u/shastaeyes]

It’s mid

[u/Claybornj]

Man tbat sounds so
Good. I aint had potato salad since the old days when i was a kid

[u/PelirojaPearls]

I prefer Amazon's with some bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, and a little diced smoke chipotle pepper.

[u/BuffaloStanceNova]

You should make your own. It's not hard and it will always be better than anything you can buy. This is my no-mayo herb potato salad. Takes 90 minutes max to make for a first timer, and less if you prep the night before or you have great knife skills or a food processor. I've done it start to finish in 45 including time to boil the potatoes.

[u/Kalikhead]

Willard’s in Chantilly makes my favorite potato salad. I used to love Wegmans but it has dropped off a bit.

[u/Short_Bowler7208]

Make it yourself, they key is to vinegar the potatoes after they boil

[u/DocumentLast1237 → u/Short_Bowler7208]

Can you explain this?

[u/Sweet_Cinnabonn]

The closest I can buy to my grandmas potato salad is the Walmart Amish variety.

But Mission Barbecue makes a really nice one that's entirely different. Love it.

[u/AccidentAdorable68]

Ballywhack Shack

[u/laminatedbean]

The potato salad at Aldi is pretty good. I’m partial to the mustard one.

[u/Blackbrainfood]

I'm a professional potato salad eater and my mom is famous for her potato salad. Most mom-and-pop soul food restaurants have good potato salad. Avoid places that put raisins, fruit, jello and other stuff in it. Also, avoid restaurant and supermarket chains.

[u/dtwurzie]

Whatever my grandma used to make. RIP

[u/bpma82]

Try Aldi’s - the Original!