Northeast strip from Union Station east to Bladensburg Road, reborn as a ramen, cocktail and Cambodian (Maketto) corridor with a streetcar running the spine.
Maketto in Washington DC is Erik Bruner-Yang's H Street Cambodian-Taiwanese cafe and dining room, with a sneaker boutique on the ground floor and a courtyard room beyond the kitchen.
Signature: Fried chicken, Beef pho-style stew
Order: The Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich on a Maketto-baked bun; the menu has carried it since opening.
Tip: Brunch service runs Cambodian breakfast plates that the dinner menu skips; the courtyard bar is the local move.
Daru in Washington DC is Suresh Sundas's H Street modern Indian dining room on Maryland Avenue NE, a hand-built kitchen with regional Indian street food and a deep gin-and-bitters bar.
Signature: Goan crab toast, Lamb biryani
Order: The Goan crab toast on milk bread; the menu's editorial standout opener.
Tip: The chef's counter is the best seat for the kitchen show; the patio runs to October.