American$u-streetSun-Thu 11:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-04:00
Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC is the 1958 U Street counter from Ben and Virginia Ali, the city's defining half-smoke, served at 1213 U Street NW.
Signature: Chili half-smoke, Chili cheese fries
Order: The chili half-smoke with mustard, onions and chili; the dish that built the room.
Tip: Cash and card both accepted; line moves fastest at the take-away counter on the right.
American$$foggy-bottomMon-Thu 07:00-22:00, Fri 07:00-23:00, Sat 08:30-23:00, Sun 08:30-22:00
Founding Farmers DC in Washington DC is the Pennsylvania Avenue farmer-owned cooperative dining room near the IMF and World Bank, an all-day American kitchen.
Signature: Fried chicken and waffles, Pot roast meatloaf
Order: The fried chicken and waffles with apple butter; the menu's most-ordered single plate.
Tip: Reservations book out for brunch a week ahead; weekday breakfast and the bar take walk-ins.
American$$u-streetMon 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
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.
Signature: Buttermilk fried chicken, Half-smoke platter
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.
Pizzeria$$penn-quarterMon-Thu 11:00-22:30, Fri 11:00-23:30, Sat 10:00-23:30, Sun 10:00-22:30
Matchbox in Washington DC is the original Penn Quarter pizza-and-burger room on H Street since 2003, a wood-fired oven kitchen on Chinatown's western edge.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Mini burger trio
Order: The mini burger trio with thin onion rings; the room's most-ordered appetiser.
Tip: The upstairs dining room is quieter than the busy ground-floor bar; ask for it at booking.
Italian Pizza$$dupont-circleMon-Thu 12:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-21:00
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.
Ethiopian$$shawSun-Thu 11:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:30-23:00
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.