Ben's Chili Bowl is a street-food stop in U Street, Washington DC.
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.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Tip: Late nights see the longest lines; the counter on the right runs takeaway faster than the dining-room line.
Address: 1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009, Washington DC
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: Hand-pinched Latin American empanadas
Tip: Two empanadas plus a side stays under $12; Friday and Saturday counter is the bar-crawl late-night anchor on 18th Street.
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: Warm chocolate-chip cookie ice cream sandwich
Tip: The warm chocolate-chip cookie ice cream sandwich is the editorial signature; the food truck still circulates DC for lunch shifts on weekdays.
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: Vietnamese pho tai chin
Tip: The pho dac biet (special) with rare beef and brisket is the editorial bowl; bowl size large feeds two for $14.
Tortilla Cafe in Washington DC is the Capitol Hill 7th Street Salvadoran-Mexican counter across from Eastern Market, with pupusas, tacos and Salvadoran.
Try: Pupusas and tacos al pastor
Tip: Outdoor sidewalk seats are the move at lunch; the pupusas come three to a plate with curtido for $11.
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 in the late.
Try: 18-inch jumbo slice
Tip: Cash is fastest after midnight; one folded jumbo slice walks two people home from the Adams Morgan strip.
Jumbo Slice Pizza in Washington DC is the third 18th Street late-night pizza counter on the Adams Morgan strip, holding the same 04:00 weekend close.
Try: 18-inch jumbo slice
Tip: The cheese-slice with hot honey is the closing-time editorial pick; sit on the sidewalk bench facing the strip.
