Tysons Partnership recently had a chance to catch up with Northern Virginia influencer, Emily Hoang, on life as a food blogger and on her favorite dining options in Tysons Galleria.
Emily Hoang, aka @urnovafoodie, is a true Virginian. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, she was a picky eater at a young age but determined she would try foods at least once before actually deciding on whether she likes them or not.
We caught up with Emily to learn more about what it’s like to be a “foodie influencer” and she shared some of her favorite eateries in Tysons Galleria along the way.
When did you start blogging?
I started blogging when I was a senior in high school. The idea came to my friends and me during English class. I wanted to start one for a while because I would always get asked where I was going out to eat.
What motivated you to open up a food blog?
Creating a food blog was the perfect way to keep track of where I’ve been and what I ate. It was also my strong passion for food and exploring new places. I’m an adventurous eater now and love trying new things.
What is the best and worst part of being a foodie influencer?
The best part about being a foodie influencer in my opinion is being able to meet different business owners and collaborating with them. Additionally, it allows me to be creative with my content and I love photographing food action shots. The worst part about being a foodie influencer is being associated with the negative influencer stereotypes. One of them is that foodie influencers are just in it for the free food. Which may be true for some, but not all of them.
What are your favorite food hashtags to use?
Some of my favorite hashtags to use are #urnovafoodie, #dmvfoodiecrew, #dmvfoodie, and #vafoodie.
We’ve seen you visiting plenty of restaurants in the Tysons area, including those in Tysons Galleria, what are your favorite places to eat there?
Some of my favorite places to eat in Tysons Galleria are Lady M Cakes, Andy’s Pizza, and Donburi.
If you had to pick, what are your go-to dishes at Tysons Galleria?
My go to dishes at Tysons Galleria are the earl grey crepe cake from Lady M, sakedon from Donburi, and the sausage and pepper pizza from Andy’s Pizza. The earl grey crepe cake is perfect for tea lovers. It’s light, fluffy, and not too sweet. If you love fresh raw salmon, the sakedon is perfect for you. It also comes with rice, pickles, and wasabi. The sausage and pepper pizza is the perfect combination because the peppers add a slight crunch and sausage is one of my favorite toppings to get on pizza.
Lastly, do you have any tips for any fellow Virginians that want to be food bloggers?
For those who want to become a food blogger, have fun with it and don’t care too much about the numbers. Starting a food blog is a great creative outlet that allows you to express yourself. So, go out and add your own flare and personality to it!
