Assembling a list of 40 must-try dishes from D.C.-area restaurants is not an easy task, given the breadth and diversity of the local dining scene. Washington Post reporters spent months eating our way across the region, but not long after publishing our list, we began hearing from readers who wondered why a favorite meal didn’t make the cut. So we asked: What did we leave out?
We received dozens of suggestions, ranging from classics served in four-star restaurants to go-to entrées at takeout spots. Here’s a sampling of the responses.
Reader comments have been edited for length and clarity.
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Breakfast tacos at La Tejana
Trying to choose between the tacos at Mount Pleasant’s La Tejana can be a difficult task. That’s why Katherine Crowe nominated both the 512 and the El Frijolito. “The BBQ brisket in the 512 is so flavorful and tender,” Crowe writes. “El frijolito is a simple offering, but the refried beans are so perfectly cooked and flavored. It’s a consistently reliable comfort food.” Either way, they’re served on handmade house tortillas for crowds that wait in line every weekend. “These are the best breakfast tacos in the city and the best I’ve ever had in my life,” Crowe says. “You can taste the love in every bite.”
El frijolito $4.75; 512 $7. 3211 Mount Pleasant St. NW. latejanadc.com.
Fried chicken with potato salad and collard greens at the Hitching Post. (Scott Suchman/For The Washington Post) –
Fried chicken at the Hitching Post
Why include the crispy, cooked-to-order chicken at Petworth’s homey soul food staple? “Because it is awesome!” says reader Chris Church, who finds a fellow fan in former Post food critic Tom Sietsema.
$25. 200 Upshur St. NW. thehpostrestaurant.com.
Gambas al ajillo at Jaleo. (Scott Suchman/For The Washington Post) –
Gambas al ajillo at Jaleo
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This simple plate of shrimp sautéed in olive oil with garlic and chile de arbol, a staple of tapas in Spain, has been a fixture on Jaleo’s menu for more than three decades. You can argue, as reader Eddie K does, that it is “the dish that started the José Andrés empire” in Washington. Multiple readers asked for its inclusion, and we love it, too: The Post included gambas al ajillo on our list of the 24 dishes that shaped how Washington eats.
$18. 480 Seventh St. NW. jaleo.com.
The century-old A. Litteri near Union Market offers deli sandwiches to go, along with wine, pasta, olive oil and other Italian pantry staples. (Evy Mages/For The Washington Post) –
Italian classic sandwich at A. Litteri
“I’m from Philly,” is how a reader named Jonah establishes their sandwich credentials. The century-old A. Litteri is “the OG shop in Union Market and one of the few spots in the city that makes sandwiches on hard rolls” — news that only gets better with Litteri’s recent announcement that its deli is now using custom-made bread from D.C.’s Bread Alley. The old-school Italian sub, recommended by multiple readers, is piled with Italian cold cuts, and, Jonah says, “the added benefit is that while you pick up your sandwich you can also stock up on the best meat and cheese options in the city, in my humble opinion.”
$7.99. 517 Morse St. NE. alitteri.com.
Nancy’s Caesar (center) is among the featured dishes at Osteria Mozza. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post). –
Nancy’s Caesar at Osteria Mozza
Whether in wrap or salad form, Caesar salad has enjoyed a moment in recent years. Still, not all are created equal. For Noah A. Stevens, a superlative Caesar comes from Osteria Mozza, Stephen Starr and Nancy Silverton’s luxe Georgetown eatery. “It’s such a creative, balanced, and elevated take on a classic, tired staple,” Stevens writes. “Deconstructed and served on a crostini, it’s more interesting (and quite frankly more delicious) than its inspiration. The eggs and anchovy give a richness to the dish, and the addition of leeks provide a balanced acidity.”
$24. 3276 M St. NW. osteriamozzadc.com.
Rasika’s palak chaat has been featured on The Post’s 40 Eats list multiple times. Readers say it deserved a place this year, too. (Scott Suchman/For The Washington Post) –
Palak chaat at Rasika and Rasika West End
Light as air, gently crisped and bursting with chili and roasted cumin flavors, Rasika’s fried spinach is one of the city’s best-known appetizers. In fact, it featured on our very first 40 Eats list back in 2012, and was included again a few years later. We chose relative newcomer Chai Pani’s kale version this time around, but Rasika still has its fans: The palak chaat was mentioned by more readers than any other dish. “Is there a better appetizer to share at an Indian restaurant?” asked Jeffery Akman. “It is crispy, sweet, tangy and spicy. The spinach is so light and crispy it could float away, except for the wonderful sauce that coats the spinach leaves.” Another reader nodded to its longevity: “Its staying power in this ever-changing restaurant scene is impressive, but easy to understand.”
$16. 633 D St. NW and 1190 New Hampshire Ave. NW. rasikarestaurant.com.
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