Frequent travel affords me the opportunity to eat at some great places across the world when I’m on the road. I’ve always been a sucker for the local dive and will go out of my way for a greasy spool. I’m quick to order the “house special” and while it has #failed at times, more than not I’ve had some great eating experiences. I’ve often talked about writing a book titled, “A DC Guide to Strip Mall Dining” because naturally some of the best places are tucked away unassumingly within suburban strip malls. This is almost universally true with great ethnic cuisine – of which DC is one of the most diverse restaurant cities in the US. But I haven’t done as much “research” as I should so it is now time to fix that.
Of course I’ve been to many of the traditional DC spots:
- Market Lunch – (for breakfast of course) – many times before Eastern Market burned down, a few times while it was in the tent across the street, and now in the restored Eastern Market
- Weenie Beenie (the only one of 6 original ones left). Read more about the man and his legacy here.
- Ollie’s Trolley
- Reeve’s Bakery – a classic DC icon that is now unfortunately gone. Read the history here.
- Ben’s Chili Bowl (naturally)
- Hotel Harrington Cafeteria – the hotel is still there, but I’m not sure the cafeteria is still around. When I worked downtown I ate here the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for several years.
- Florida Ave. Grill – another classic DC spot.
- Piedigrotta (in Baltimore) – I’m a sucker for Cannoli
- The Italian Store – not an old icon (yet)
- Kabob Palace
Here is the current hit list. And of course I’ll take plenty of influence from Tyler Cowen‘s guide once these are done.
- Pete’s Diner
- Amsterdam Falafelshop
- Elephant Jumps
- MGM Roast Beef
- Zenebech Injera
- Pho Viet
- Kohinoor Dhaba
- Waffle Shop
- RT’s Restaurant
- Lincoln Waffle Shop
- Henry’s Soul Cafe
- Horace & Dickie’s
- Tune Inn
- Bayou Bakery
- We, the Pizza
- DC-3 (can’t do DC without doing half smokes)
- Dangerously Delicious Pies
- Tortilla Café
- Comet Ping Pong
- Oohh’s & Aahh’s
- Fast Gourmet
- Osman & Joe’s Steak ‘n Egg Kitchen (name alone)
- The Red Derby
