Since early 2024, co-founders Shihan Chowdhury and Amgd Gende knew they had something special to bring to the people. When they launched Flavor Hive as a food truck in Alexandria, VA, it immediately gained viral attention for their “walking taco” chip bag concept; $10, any size bag, and they will load up the ingredients to the point where that chip bag could feed a small family. These days, you see many small and large businesses adding a similar item to their menus, hoping to capture the same magic that Flavor Hive did when they started out.

With that success, came opportunity. A little after a year went by, and the partners opened their first permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant in Annandale, VA. They built out the space to operate like a build-your-own bowl concept, now not just relying on the chip bags that brought them their early virality. Since then, they’ve added new concepts, such as Cafe Hive where guests can bring items to blend into ice cream for their own unique creations. I even did one with Old Bay Caramel Popcorn and Baltimore’s famous Berger cookies (It was fantastic).

Now, Flavor Hive operates at 9 different locations. Most recently, they opened new locations in Waldorf, MD as well as M St NW right in the middle of Georgetown. I got to visit both spaces early, and have no doubts that both will continue the pattern of success that they’ve worked so hard for. The Waldorf location sits adjacent to a creek with beautiful views and a walking path. They also acquired the neighboring space for a sit-down restaurant called “The Creek.” Here, you can try some of Shihan’s other creations from social media such as a chopped cheese sandwich, double smash burger, chicken wings and many others.

The Georgetown location is right in the heart of M St, where you walk in and immediately down into the space that’s decorated with the classic Flavor Hive black and red colors, and has a very intimate feel for such a small space. Both locations of course deliver on Flavor Hive’s promises; large portions, big flavors and a welcoming family feel that would make any customer feel appreciated. As they continue their regional expansion (hopefully with more spots in Montgomery County), I’ll be pulling for their continued success because it’s awesome to see someone like Shihan who grew up in MoCo live out their dreams at such a large scale.

 

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@mr.8.that The @Flavor Hive empire continues to expand and is a testament to hard work and people who are passionate about what they do! Two new locations in the last month! #flavorhive #dmveats #foodiefinds #halalfood #mr8that ♬ original sound – mr.8.that

ZiZa Kabob has opened its first Montgomery County location at 1675 Chapman Ave. in Rockville’s Twinbrook Quarter development. The restaurant is welcoming customers during a soft opening as it continues building and training its team. A video preview of what to expect can be seen below.

In its opening announcement, ZiZa Kabob asked guests for patience and understanding and noted that table service is not yet available. The restaurant plans to introduce table service once its team is ready. Two hours of complimentary garage parking are available seven days a week.

Co-owner Fahim Rafiq previously told The MoCoShow that the Rockville restaurant would mark ZiZa Kabob’s first expansion into full-service dining. The eventual plan calls for counter ordering during lunch and full service beginning at 4pm, but that transition has not yet been implemented.

The menu features homemade Afghan family recipes, including flame-grilled kabobs, stews and aromatic rice dishes prepared with traditional spices. According to Rafiq, the restaurant is 100% halal, with a focus on fresh food, hospitality and a family-friendly atmosphere. All artwork inside was hand-painted and custom-made for the Rockville location.

ZiZa Kabob’s name combines the names of the owners’ children, Zidane and Zayn. The restaurant’s original location is at 7351 Assateague Dr. in Jessup, and the business is associated with Baltimore’s Maiwand Grill.

Rafiq previously said he had always wanted to open a restaurant in Rockville, an area he and his wife frequently visit. When the opportunity at Twinbrook Quarter became available, he quickly fell in love with the location.

 

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Maryland ranked 12th in ConsumerAffairs’ 2026 ranking of the best public education systems in the United States, dropping three spots from ninth in 2025 and returning to the position it held in 2024.

The ConsumerAffairs Research Team compared all 50 states across four categories: K-12 academic outcomes, school funding and resources, higher education, and school safety. The analysis evaluates the overall strength of public education systems, including student outcomes, college affordability and completion, resources, and safety.

Maryland received a total score of 53.14 in the 2026 ranking. Its strongest showing was in school funding, where it ranked eighth nationally, followed by higher education at 10th. Maryland ranked 26th in K-12 academic outcomes and 48th in school safety.

Here is how Maryland’s results compare across the three editions:

Maryland’s K-12 and higher education placements improved from 2025, while its school funding placement remained unchanged. School safety saw the largest shift among its category rankings, moving from 24th in 2025 to 48th in 2026.

ConsumerAffairs notes that its methodology has been refined each year, including updates to metrics and category weights. As a result, changes in rankings and scores should not be read as direct measurements of how much conditions improved or worsened from one year to the next.

The report also emphasizes that the overall ranking measures more than academic achievement. A state can perform well in one category and place considerably lower in another, as Maryland’s results illustrate.

Massachusetts took the top spot in the 2026 ranking, followed by New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington. Virginia ranked ninth, while Pennsylvania placed 11th, immediately ahead of Maryland.

Teas’n You Fusion Tea House will celebrate the grand opening of its first Maryland location on Saturday, September 26, at 11am at 838 Rockville Pike in Rockville. The opening was previously scheduled for September 12.

The celebration will include buy one, get one free specials across the entire menu all weekend long, along with a free cupcake for the first 100 guests. The Northern Virginia bubble tea destination is taking over the space previously occupied by Cuppa Tea.

Founded in Vienna in 2017, Teas’n You has built a following across the DMV with an extensive menu featuring loose-leaf teas, fruit-infused teas, milk teas, slush beverages, desserts, pastries and snacks. The company also describes its popcorn chicken as the “best popcorn chicken in the DMV.”

The tea house is known for its boutique-style interior and late-night hours. Its Vienna location remains open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays and until 2am on all other nights, catering to late-night study sessions, post-movie cravings, shift workers and customers looking for food and drinks after most nearby businesses have closed. “Great food. Great drinks. Great vibes. No curfew,” the company says.

Regular operating hours for the Rockville location have not yet been confirmed.