What to order at Ben's Next Door

Must order
The buttermilk fried chicken with mac and collards; the room's most-ordered single dish.
Signature dishes
Buttermilk fried chicken, Half-smoke platter
Editor tip
The bar runs late on weekends and is the better seat for a single diner; brunch fills up by 11:30.
CuisineAmerican
Price$$
NeighborhoodU Street
HoursMon 12:00-22:00, Tue-Thu 12:00-23:00, Fri 12:00-01:00, Sat 11:00-01:00, Sun 11:00-22:00
Last verified

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Location

Address: 1211 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009, Washington DC

More casual dining in Washington DC

Matchbox ★ 4.0

$$ PizzeriaPenn Quarter

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.

OrderThe mini burger trio with thin onion rings; the room's most-ordered appetiser.

TipThe upstairs dining room is quieter than the busy ground-floor bar; ask for it at booking.

Pizzeria Paradiso ★ 4.2

$$ Italian PizzaDupont Circle

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.

OrderThe Atomica with hot salami, black olives and red pepper flakes; the menu since 1991.

TipThe Birreria downstairs runs over 150 beers; ask for the Italian craft tasting flight at the bar.

Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant ★ 4.5

$$ EthiopianShaw

Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant in Washington DC is the second-floor 9th Street rowhouse Ethiopian dining room in Shaw's Little Ethiopia, a no-reservations.

OrderThe shiro chickpea stew with extra injera; the menu's editorial signature.

TipNo 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 ★ 4.4

$$ EthiopianShaw

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.

OrderThe kitfo (Ethiopian raw beef tartare) leb leb or rare with mitmita spice; the room's deepest cut.

TipLive Ethiopian music plays Friday and Saturday from 21:00; the back booth is the quietest table.

Pizzeria Paradiso Georgetown ★ 4.1

$$ Italian PizzaGeorgetown

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.

OrderThe Genovese with pesto, potatoes and green beans; the Genoese signature of the menu.

TipThe patio runs from April to October and overlooks the C&O Canal towpath; book a sunset seat.

Le Sel ★ 4.4

$$$ Modern French BistroLogan Circle

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.

OrderThe cassoulet that won the authentic-category world award; the menu's editorial anchor.

TipBreakfast service from 07:00 daily is the hidden value; dinner books out a week ahead on Resy.

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