13 editor picks in Washington DC.
Washington's street food and quick-eats culture is built on the chili half-smoke, the empanada, the market fish fry and the late-night slice. Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street is the icon of the genre, while Julia's Empanadas in Adams Morgan and the open-air Maine Avenue Fish Market downtown carry the hand-held, eat-on-your-feet tradition.
13 street food places in Washington DC we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Washington DC · Street Food across every city.
Try Chili half-smoke and chili cheese fries
Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC is the 1958 U Street counter from Ben and Virginia Ali, the city's defining chili half-smoke counter serving past 04:00.
Try Hand-pinched Latin American empanadas
Julia's Empanadas in Washington DC is the Adams Morgan 18th Street empanada counter since 1993, the late-night corner that established the format.
Try Warm chocolate-chip cookie ice cream sandwich
Captain Cookie & the Milk Man in Washington DC is the Western Market flagship of the DC food-truck-turned-storefront on I Street near Farragut Square.
Try Vietnamese pho tai chin
Pho 14 Columbia Heights in Washington DC is the Park Road Vietnamese counter near the Columbia Heights Metro, with pho served from a 14-hour broth.
Try Pupusas and tacos al pastor
Tortilla Cafe in Washington DC is the Capitol Hill 7th Street Salvadoran-Mexican counter across from Eastern Market, with pupusas, tacos and Salvadoran.
Try 18-inch jumbo slice
Pizza Mart Adams Morgan in Washington DC is the 18th Street late-night pizza counter, one of two rooms claiming to have invented the jumbo slice.
Try Jumbo slice and stromboli
Duccini's Pizza in Washington DC is the U Street NW jumbo-slice counter near the Adams Morgan strip, open to 05:00 on Friday and Saturday nights.
Try 18-inch jumbo slice
Jumbo Slice Pizza in Washington DC is the 18th Street late-night pizza counter on the Adams Morgan strip, holding the same 04:00 weekend close.
Try Half-smoke chili dog (Arlington)
Weenie Beenie is the Arlington half-smoke counter at 2680 South Shirlington Road, a 1950s walk-up window that claims a Northern Virginia hold.
Try Boiled blue crabs and shrimp by the pound
Maine Avenue Fish Market in Washington DC is the Southwest Waterfront open-air seafood market on Maine Avenue, the oldest continuously-operating open-air.
Try Half-smoke breakfast plate
Florida Avenue Grill in Washington DC is the LeDroit Park diner at the corner of Florida and 11th since 1944, the city's oldest soul food counter.
Try Soul food with mumbo sauce wings
Oohh's & Aahh's in Washington DC is the U Street soul-food counter from Oji Abbott since 2005, with mumbo sauce wings, fried catfish and the carryout.
Try Sweet potato pie, fried chicken, mumbo wings
Henry's Soul Cafe in Washington DC is the U Street soul-food counter from Henry Smith since 1968, with sweet potato pie sold by the slice and the carryout.
