Where to eat in Washington DC after midnight, and the classic 2am move.
Where to eat in Washington DC after midnight. kitchens that keep going, post-bar staples and the classic 2am move.
Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC is the 1958 U Street half-smoke counter, the city's late-night anchor with the chili half-smoke served until 04:00 on Friday and Saturday nights.
Try: Chili half-smoke past 02:00
Tip: Cash and card both work past 02:00; the take-away counter on the right runs faster than the dining-room line.
Amsterdam Falafelshop in Washington DC is the Adams Morgan 18th Street falafel counter, the city's late-night strip anchor with the self-serve toppings open until 04:00 on Friday and Saturday.
Try: Falafel sandwich with 21 toppings
Tip: The 18th Street strip queue past 02:00 spills onto the sidewalk; the smaller side counter runs faster than the front one.
Pizza Mart Adams Morgan in Washington DC is the 18th Street late-night jumbo-slice counter open until 04:00 every night, one of the two original claims to the DC jumbo-slice format.
Try: Eighteen-inch jumbo slice
Tip: One jumbo slice for $7 walks two people home; cash moves the line faster than card past 02:00.
Duccini's Pizza in Washington DC is the 18th Street late-night jumbo-slice counter open until 04:00 on weekends, the second of the two claims on the Adams Morgan jumbo-slice format.
Try: Jumbo slice and stromboli
Tip: The mushroom-pepperoni jumbo slice is the bar-crowd choice; the stromboli is the longer-keeping order for the walk home.
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.
Try: Lamb and chicken kabobs
Tip: The 03:00 lamb kebab plate with rice and naan is $14 around the clock; cabbies fill the dining room past 02:00.
The Diner Adams Morgan in Washington DC is the 18th Street 24-hour diner from the Tryst Coffee House group, with all-day breakfast, burgers and a deep milkshake list at 04:00.
Try: Diner classics, all-day breakfast
Tip: The bottomless coffee runs $4; the patty melt with onion rings is the 03:00 editorial order.
The Pug in Washington DC is the H Street NE corner dive bar with a deep American beer list and a small kitchen serving cheeseburgers and fries until the bar closes at 02:00 nightly.
Try: Cheeseburger and fries
Tip: The cash-only late-night burger is $9; the patio fills with the after-show crowd from Atlas Performing Arts.
Thip Khao in Washington DC is Seng Luangrath's Columbia Heights Laotian dining room with late-night service until 23:00 Friday and Saturday, with the jungle-menu larb still available.
Try: Laotian larb and sticky rice
Tip: Ask for the off-menu jungle insert by name; the bartender pulls the BYO wine for any party that brings a bottle.
Peak food season in Washington DC is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Washington DC rewards trust.