Ben's Next Door is an american restaurant in U Street, Washington DC.
Ben's Next Door in Washington DC is the sit-down sister of Ben's Chili Bowl at 1211 U Street, a soul-American kitchen with a cocktail list and the half-smoke.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Buttermilk fried chicken, Half-smoke platter
Must order: The buttermilk fried chicken with mac and collards; the room's most-ordered single dish.
Tip: The bar runs late on weekends and is the better seat for a single diner; brunch fills up by 11:30.
Address: 1211 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009, Washington DC
Matchbox in Washington DC is the original Penn Quarter pizza-and-burger room on H Street since 2003, a wood-fired oven kitchen on Chinatown's western edge.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Mini burger trio
Order: The mini burger trio with thin onion rings; the room's most-ordered appetiser.
Tip: The upstairs dining room is quieter than the busy ground-floor bar; ask for it at booking.
Pizzeria Paradiso in Washington DC is Ruth Gresser's Dupont Circle wood-fired pizza room on P Street since 1991, a thin-crust Italian pizzeria.
Signature: Margherita pizza, Atomica with salami and pepper
Order: The Atomica with hot salami, black olives and red pepper flakes; the menu since 1991.
Tip: The Birreria downstairs runs over 150 beers; ask for the Italian craft tasting flight at the bar.
Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant in Washington DC is the second-floor 9th Street rowhouse Ethiopian dining room in Shaw's Little Ethiopia, a no-reservations.
Signature: Shiro chickpea stew, Vegetarian combination platter
Order: The shiro chickpea stew with extra injera; the menu's editorial signature.
Tip: No reservations; the staircase line moves fastest at 17:30 on weeknights and crowds outside the door by 19:00. Cash and card both accepted.
Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant in Washington DC is the U Street Ethiopian dining room since 1997, the older sister to Etete and a U Street institution.
Signature: Kitfo, Tibs
Order: The kitfo (Ethiopian raw beef tartare) leb leb or rare with mitmita spice; the room's deepest cut.
Tip: Live Ethiopian music plays Friday and Saturday from 21:00; the back booth is the quietest table.
Pizzeria Paradiso Georgetown in Washington DC is the M Street wood-fired pizza sister on the canal, the Georgetown branch of Ruth Gresser's Dupont Circle.
Signature: Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, Atomica
Order: The Genovese with pesto, potatoes and green beans; the Genoese signature of the menu.
Tip: The patio runs from April to October and overlooks the C&O Canal towpath; book a sunset seat.
Le Sel in Washington DC is the modern French bistro inside the Kimpton Banneker Hotel near Logan Circle on 16th Street, a Parisian-leaning room with a recent.
Signature: Cassoulet, Steak frites with bearnaise
Order: The cassoulet that won the authentic-category world award; the menu's editorial anchor.
Tip: Breakfast service from 07:00 daily is the hidden value; dinner books out a week ahead on Resy.
