New American$$Sun-Thu 11:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-04:00Until 04:00 Friday and Saturday
Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC is the 1958 U Street half-smoke counter, the city's late-night anchor with the chili half-smoke served until 04:00.
Try: Chili half-smoke past 02:00
Tip: Cash and card both work past 02:00; the take-away counter on the right runs faster than the dining-room line.
Pizzeria$$Tue-Thu 18:00-03:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-04:00, Sun 18:00-03:00Until 04:00 nightly
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.
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.
American diner$$Daily 00:00-24:00Until Open 24 hours
Kabob Palace just outside Washington DC is the Crystal City Eads Street 24-hour Afghan halal kabob counter, the metro area's most-known late-night halal lamb.
Try: Lamb and chicken kabobs
Tip: The 03:00 lamb kebab plate with rice and naan is $14 around the clock; cabbies fill the dining room past 02:00.
Brunch$$Daily 00:00-24:00Until Open 24 hours
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.
Try: Diner classics, all-day breakfast
Tip: The bottomless coffee runs $4; the patty melt with onion rings is the 03:00 editorial order.
Laotian$$Mon 17:00-22:00, Wed-Sun 17:00-22:00Until 23:00 Friday and Saturday
Thip Khao in Washington DC is Seng Luangrath's Columbia Heights Laotian dining room with late-night service until 23:00 Friday and Saturday.
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.