10 Famous Foods in Washington, DC & Where To Eat Them
As the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., is famous for many different things. From the incredible museums and monuments to diverse cultures and neighborhoods, there’s never a shortage of amazing things to see and do in Washington, D.C.—and the food scene is an attraction all its own!
I started visiting D.C. when I met my college sweetheart from the nearby charming town of Berlin, Maryland, and married him. Since then, nearly every trip back East to visit family in the area has included some quality time exploring our nation’s capital.
And although the dining scene in Washington is quite sophisticated, I’ve always enjoyed seeking out the unique food the city famous for. It’s not what you would call fancy, but it can be highly satisfying.
And because D.C.’s diverse food offerings reflect the city’s multicultural makeup, you can experience a multitude of outstanding flavors from around the world all in one spot.
Let me share with you 10 of the city’s most iconic dishes, so when you have a chance to visit, you can easily check out some of these famous foods in Washington, D.C.
1. Mumbo Sauce
Chicken slathered in mumbo sauce, good eats DC-style
Mumbo sauce was created in D.C., and it’s something everyone should try. It's a tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce often served on fried chicken, wings, or fries.
You’ll find it at carryout and Chinese take-out spots around the city. Yums and Eddie’s are a couple of spots where you can count on finding it! If you’d like to bring a bottle back home with you, you can pick some up at Giant grocery stores around town.
You should know that some people refer to this same condiment as mambo sauce, and there’s an ongoing debate among Washingtonians about which spelling is correct. There’s also lots of disagreement over the origins of the sauce. Either way you spell it, this is one of the famous foods in Washington, D.C., that is certainly worth a try!
In October 2023, McDonald's released their own version of the sauce as a limited time offering in their U.S. locations. But don’t be fooled, this version tastes different than the mumbo sauce you’ll get in the nation’s capital.
Mumbo sauce had to be the first food item on our Famous Foods in Washington, D.C., list because it is one of the few locally beloved foods that was invented in Washington, D.C.—depending on whom you talk to.
2. Half-Smokes
Half-smokes are a uniquely delicious food of Washington, D.C.
So many spots in the U.S. have their local style of hot dog that becomes an iconic hometown favorite. They are among the famous foods of Boston, Chicago, Seattle, and Alaska (reindeer dogs, of course).
But D.C. flips the script by dumping the dog in favor of its own sensational sausage: the half-smoke. And as the second most famous food in Washington, D.C., it’s here in the second spot on our list.
The half-smoke is a sausage that’s larger, spicier, and coarser than a hot dog. Half-smokes are legendary in the city, and you’ll find them in different smoke houses all around D.C.
This Washington, D.C., crowd pleaser is traditionally served with chili, onions, and mustard. One of the most famous places to try it is at Ben's Chili Bowl, a historic D.C. establishment that offers great cheap food in D.C.
Ben’s Chili Bowl has been a D.C. landmark for decades and has opened additional locations throughout the city over the years. However, the U Street location houses the original restaurant and is revered as a bedrock institution in its community. That’s the Ben’s location you need to try.
Another popular place to grab one of the city’s signature sausages is at HalfSmoke right off U Street. They have fun decor, boozy cocktails, and over-the-top garnishes for milkshakes and bloody marys.
Their house-famous half-smoke comes with chili, bacon, mustard slaw, onion crisps, and beer cheese. Pretty good, if you ask me!
3. Pupusas
Pupusas are one of a Salvadoran food delicacies Washington savors.
Washington, D.C., is home to one of the largest Salvadoran populations outside of El Salvador, so it’s no surprise that one of the best places to get pupusas in the entire United States is The District.
Pupusas begin with thick cornmeal tortillas similar to those in Colombian or Venezuelan arepas. The tortillas are then filled with beans, meat, and/or cheese. So cherished in their place of origin, pupusas have been declared the national dish of El Salvador. How convenient that they are so easy to find all across D.C.!
Salvadoran restaurants in the D.C. area are an interesting find for another reason too. Many Salvadorans who opened local eateries also serve popular Mexican dishes. Salva-Mex cuisine is a popular fusion cuisine in the region, with many unique Mexican-Salvadoran dishes on offer.
Several Salvadoran restaurants can be found in the Columbia Heights neighborhood around U Street, like Gloria’s Pupuseria and Elizabeth Pupuseria & Deli. If you have a car, you might want to head to Alexandria less than a half hour out of town to check out some other great pupusa spots. Restaurante Abi and Tacos Lucas are two excellent choices.
4. Ethiopian Food
Ethiopian restaurants are some of the unique places to eat in DC.
D.C. has one of the largest Ethiopian populations in the U.S., and as a result, there are many great Ethiopian restaurants in the city. Dishes like injera (sourdough flatbread), doro wat (spicy chicken stew), and other Ethiopian classics are must-try dishes at one of the excellent spots around town.
Ethiopian food is known for its fragrant spices, such as berbere, a blend that includes chili peppers, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, fenugreek, and various other components. These flavors work so well together, and any meal involving them are a transporting experience!
A couple of the best places to engage in the Ethiopian experience are Dukem on U Street and Ethiopic Restaurant on H Street.
5. Old Bay Seasoning
Some of the best foods in Washington, D.C., are seasoned with Old Bay.
While this seasoning originated in Baltimore and is one of the famous foods of Maryland, Old Bay can be found all over Washington, D.C., and the flavor is one the whole region is known for. In fact, Old Bay has been a long-standing tradition in the Mid-Atlantic for almost a hundred years now.
Old Bay Seasoning's history is tied to the story of Gustav Brunn, a German-Jewish immigrant who fled Nazi Germany and settled in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1938. Brunn noticed fishmongers buying spices to create their own spice blends and decided to create a blend for them!
Today, McCormick owns the spice, and you’ll find it all over the D.C. region, Virginia, and Maryland. While Old Bay is indeed great on seafood like crabs and fish, it’s also used on chicken, french fries, and vegetables around D.C.
It’s another thing you’ll find in grocery stores throughout D.C. and can take back with you to bring home a taste of the region!
6. Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs
Steamed crabs are a beloved Washington, DC food.
D.C. is located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which is home to some of the best seafood on the East Coast. Because Washington, D.C., is so close to the bay, there’s tons of great seafood, but the best of the bounty is the blue crabs.
These are the same blue crabs that are one of the famous foods of Virginia and Maryland, and they are some of the most amazing crabs you’ll ever eat. They’re definitely among the best foods in Washington, D.C.
Because they hibernate during winter, area blue crabs must store some fat to get them through this period when they are not eating. It’s this fat that imparts an extra dosage of deliciousness and delicate sweetness to the area blue crab!
You’ll find steamed blue crabs and other crab dishes throughout the area. Wonderful crab cakes are easy to find on many menus around D.C. and are often (OK, almost always) seasoned with Old Bay.
Both crab cakes and steamed crabs are a classic way to eat blue crab, but finding steamed crabs in D.C. proper is very challenging. They are seasonal and can get pricey, but if you really want to try some, the best time is April through September.
However, plump, delicious crab cakes are enjoyed year round throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV).
For a great crab cake, check out Hank’s Oyster Bar at either their Dupont Circle or Southwest Waterfront locations. Or, for a truly refined experience, try the upscale Blue Duck Tavern. Either is a winning choice, but an extra bonus at Hank’s is that they also serve another great food D.C. is known for on this list: oysters!
7. Oysters
Some of Washington, D.C.’s most famous foods come from the Chesapeake Bay.
Briny or sweet, raw, fried, or grilled, no matter how you enjoy oysters, these tasty bivalves can be found at plenty of spots around D.C.! The Chesapeake Bay has many different varieties of oysters, and one of the really cool things about them is that, depending on how brackish the water is where they live, oysters will have a different taste.
Oyster menus in the area will tell you the exact spot the oysters came from, and you can do a taste test of all the different places to find your favorite! There’s so much to enjoy—and so many local happy hour specials to take advantage of for the best prices.
The historic Old Ebbitt Grill (founded in 1856) has a daily oyster happy hour. Pearl Dive Oyster Palace is another popular go-to location for the locals. Their happy hour is each weekday, with half-priced local oysters costing $2 each (with a minimum order of a dozen).
8. Jumbo Slice
A jumbo slice is a famous DC food late-night Washington craves.
While not as widely available as it used to be, one of the famous late-night foods in D.C. remains the jumbo slice. The jumbo slice is a massive slice of thin-crust pizza that really hits the spot after a long day walking around D.C. or enjoying a few drinks!
Ten years ago, you’d find jumbo slices all over D.C. Nowadays, the Adams Morgan and U Street areas are best known for maintaining jumbo slice culinary culture.
Although enormous, jumbo slices are otherwise pretty similar to NY-style pizza slices, yet they do have their own unique flavor. Check out Pizza Mart or Duccini’s for an authentic D.C. jumbo slice.
9. Peruvian Chicken
Peruvian chicken is a dish DC locals can’t get enough of.
Another food you won’t struggle to find in Washington, D.C., is delicious Peruvian chicken. D.C. has a sizeable Peruvian population, and over the years, several different Peruvian chicken places have opened up in and around the city.
Peruvian chicken, or pollo a la brasa, is made by marinating the whole chicken then roasting it until golden brown with crispy skin. It’s typically served with sides like fried yucca, salad, or french fries. In addition, there are some incredible green and yellow sauces you simply must get to dip your chicken in!
In D.C. proper, you can check out Chix Peruvian Chicken, but the most famous place for Peruvian chicken in the DMV is in Arlington: El Pollo Rico. This family-owned spot has been visited by famous foodies such as Anthony Bourdain!
10. Steaks
Many of the city's movers and shakers enjoy their famous Washington, D.C. food in steakhouses.
The last thing on this list of famous foods in Washington, D.C., is steaks. Where do all the people on the Hill, lobbyists, and politicians go for a nice meal? A steakhouse, of course!
Downtown D.C. is home to several of these restaurants, and they are known for their delicious steaks and great lunches.
Two of the best places to grab a nice steak are BLT Steak and Joe’s Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab.
Try Some Famous Foods in Washington, D.C.
I hope this list of famous foods in Washington, D.C., has helped you think about what to try on your D.C. trip! I love the amazing, diverse food scene in our nation’s capital, and you will too! There’s no shortage of amazing food to eat in The District, and these famous foods are a great way to enjoy some of the best the city has to offer.
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