Etete in Washington DC runs the city's most-photographed vegetarian combination platter, a round of injera surrounding misir, shiro, gomen and beet across the Little Ethiopia menu.
Tip: The veg combination is enough for two; pair with a hot Ethiopian coffee at the end for the editorial finish.
Address: 1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, Washington DC
Rise Bakery in Washington DC is the Palisades MacArthur Boulevard 100 percent gluten-free bakery from Cheryl Tomson, with sandwich loaves, cupcakes, brownies and bagels baked in a dedicated kitchen.
Tip: Bread loaves are baked Tuesday and Friday only; pre-order on the website by the Monday before for pickup.
NuVegan Cafe in Washington DC is the Park View Georgia Avenue vegan and gluten-free cafe, with a separate gluten-free menu insert and the city's deepest Black-owned plant-based lineup.
Tip: The Friday-Saturday brunch lineup runs hand-cut gluten-free pancakes; pre-order via the website to skip the queue.
Kabob Palace just outside Washington DC is the Crystal City Eads Street 24-hour Afghan halal kabob counter, the metro area's most-known late-night halal lamb and chicken kabob shop.
Tip: Open 24 hours; the cab-drivers' rate is the standard rate. The lamb kebab with rice and naan is $14 around the clock.
Shouk Union Market in Washington DC is the NoMa 4th Street plant-based Middle Eastern counter from Ran Nussbacher, with shouk burgers, mushroom shawarma and Israeli-style salads.
Tip: The shouk burger with chickpea-mushroom patty is the most-ordered single item; the harissa hummus is the under-ordered side.
Char Bar Kosher in Washington DC is the West End L Street glatt-kosher restaurant from Andre Voloshin, a kosher steakhouse and burger room with daily lunch and dinner service Sunday through Thursday.
Tip: Closed Friday sunset through Saturday sunset for Shabbat; the Sunday-night burger plate is the editorial pick.
Pita Plus is the kosher Israeli falafel counter outside Washington DC in College Park, with shwarma, falafel and Israeli salads supervised by the Vaad of Greater Washington.
Tip: Closed Friday sunset through Saturday sunset; the Sunday afternoon falafel pita is the value lunch.
