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The oven-like heat outside reminds us of summers off from school, which in turn got us into a conversation about the fast food we remember from those days. Maybe it's a good thing that the D.C. area, and the city in particular, isn't overrun with these places, but it doesn't mean we don't remember them fondly -- or, for that matter, dearly wish they had a few outlets closer by at times like these.
A lot of (mostly Southern) DCists, as well as we're sure many of you, have a soft spot for Waffle House, which is criminally absent from much of the area. IHOP's cheaper and countrier cousin, the House has all manner of greasy grub at all hours. While there are some international pancake locations around, IHOPs don't have a jukebox with only songs about IHOP. The closest WH locations appear to be in Dumfries and Frederick. Get the hash browns scattered, covered, and chunked.
Another south of the Mason-Dixon favorite is Chick-Fil-A, especially the standalone locations, which just seem to be more appealing for some reason — maybe it's the fact they we're not in a food court. We see them in malls occasionally and there used to be one at GW, but it's been awhile. Alert DCists note standalones in Silver Spring and near Reston. No waffle fries, tasty chicken, or Polynesian sauce on Sunday though, they're closed.
D.C. lies south of White Castle territory and north of its Southern cousin, Krystal, but both are delicious if you prefer eating a whole bunch of small greaseburgers and chicken sandwiches instead of one big one. These places are the jumbo slices of many a college town, and considering how much this city likes its jumbo slice, you'd think one of them would put us out of our misery and open up a D.C. branch.
Creative Commons photo by Flickr user ElektraCute
We can't tell you how frustrating it is seeing all the commercials in D.C. for Sonic, which taunt us with their complicated beverages and improv comedians, all while not actually having any locations near us whatsoever. The closest Sonic is over 50 miles away, in Fredericksburg, VA. Dear Sonic: we seem to recall from our childhoods that your food was not bad, but please stop being so mean and advertising on our basic cable channels. Thanks.
And of course, who can forget In-N-Out Burger. Delicious, fresh burgers and fries with a cult-like following, but only on the other coast. There always seems to be some rumor that they're going to open up a store in Manhattan, but those rumors are always false. Until they do figure out how to expand further out from the West, In-N-Out will remain one more reason for you to angrily yell at your friends who grew up in California, "Well why don't you just move back there then, if it's so freakin' great?!"
Lastly, no one in their right minds would ever suggest that Dairy Queen is actually good, but it certainly fulfills our childhood summertime nostalgia hankering, and has the added bonus of having stores in Falls Church, Alexandria, Bethesda, Wheaton, and others. So we might just pop over and get ourselves one of those creepily satisfying softserve cones with the hard chocolate shell today.
What other fast food or junk food outlets do you wish had stores in D.C.?
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There's a Waffle House (spelled, amusingly enough, Wafle House) in Del Ray, Alexandria, VA.
Also, there's a Chik-fil-a in Landmark Mall in Virginia, and a Dairy Queen on Beauregard St. in Alexandria, too. Oh, and there's a DQ at Bailey's Crossroads across the street from the Target. And on Thursday this week, DQ is donating all Blizzard sales to the Make a Wish foundation or some such charity. I'm sure the deal is on their Web site.
Sonic, home of the foot-long chili-cheese dog and Route 44 cherry lime slush.
there's a chick-fil-a at AU, though I can't say its a standalone.
Steak n Shake -- particularly for those side-by-side milkshakes.
Buffalo Wild Wings (yes, there's one in Winchester and one in Frederick) -- especially now that Wingmaster's is closed
Fazoli's -- a fast-food Italian chain with whole-wheat pasta on the menu, and hot-n-tasty subs
Skyline Chili -- The "5-way", mmm...
i really miss jack in the box. especially jack's tacos. if you open one up and take a look at the "meat" you'll feel like losing your last meal. but they're damn good if you just dig in and throw caution to the wind! really sucks that there are no jack in the box locations anywhere near here :(
I really wish that there was a Waffle House in this area. Hell, they have them in Ohio and even Colorado - why not the nation's capitol? At this point I might even settle for freakin' Huddle House.
Actually, no, I don't think I would.
I don't think this counts, but it's a good time to plead once again for Wawa! I still get depressed every time I set foot into a 7-11.
oh sweet greasy goodness, i miss waffle house. the scrambled eggs-n-cheez and raisin bread, with a side of smothered and covered hasbrowns will right most wrongs in the world. for real.
Chick-Fil-A is not just a southern place. It's a favorite stop of mine whenever I go home to NJ for their delectable chicken nuggets and waffle fries.
R-A-X.
Are there any Little Tavern hamburger joints left? They used to be all over the DC area. Not saying they were good, but they certainly filled the local "white castle" niche.
Good call on Steak and Shake. The Wafle House in Alexandria may be a separate thing, it's not on their website's store locator.
Krystal is awful. Waffle House is great. Waffle House is the only place in the South where I've seen drag queens and truck drivers eating together in complete harmony at four in the morning.
I don't feel like we need an In-N-Out. doesn't Five Guys fill that niche here? And am I mistaken, but didn't there used to be a Sonic on New York Ave roundabouts Montana or Bladensburg?
Did the Waffle House on Wisconsin between Freindship Heights and Tenleytown close down?
Isn't there a Wawa in College Park? I do miss the Wa as well. Let's see, what else... I guess there are a few Checker's here, so that takes care of Rally's. Skyline would be great, but with Ben's and all I don't think people would take it very seriously. Is the Del Ray "Wafle House" a real WH or just a knockoff? I seem to remember my aunt, who also grew up in Kentucky and would know, saying that it wasn't actually part of the chain. If you can't go in and hear "Special Lady at the Waffle House," then it's not the real deal. We've got Ollie's Trolley (best fries ever!), if that one in Chinatown is still around. Steak n Shake is excellent, but I guess it's kind of like Sonic in that you probably don't want to get anything besides the drinks. We are sorely lacking in White Castles, but it's probably better to not have Slyders at the ready. Sheesh, all this food talk is making me hungry...
The family knows whenever I get off the plane in CA-it's off to In-N-Out for a Grilled Cheese Animal Style-Immediately. It makes great plane-food, too. Actually, it makes embarrassing plane food. Way too messy, but soooooo yummy. Mmmmm, animal-style. I really miss it, but do I want it here? I think it might be THE reason I visit home. Oh, don't get the fries-they suck.
Isn't the last Little Tavern in Laurel? I remember getting a half-dozen miniburgers at the one in Georgetown, and then in College Park. What a bargain!
What about Papaya King...does that count as fast food?
Jack in the Box.
Rubio's.
Robertos.
Also not sure it's applicable, but more Dunkin's please.
I've only been to a Waffle House a few times, and I have to say I don't get it. The waffles made Eggos look gourmet.
A few more Friendly's would be nice too. There used to be one on Lee Highway, but that closed a while ago. Right now I would kill for one of their Reese's Pieces sundaes.
The Waffle House in Del Ray has all the same signage as the other Waffle Houses. And one of its signs is spelled right. It's right over by the Birchmere.
Guest[12]: Little Tavern lives on only in adaptations of its once-pervasive green-roofed huts and on the Web.
Wafle House is actually Wafle Shop. Absolutely no relation to the Golden Squares.
Dairy Queen is delicious. And who doesn't love those waffle bowl & soft serve love commericials?!
The incorrectly spelled Wafle place is Alexandria isn't a Waffle House. It's just some random restaurant w/Wafle in the name.
In-N-Out and Del Taco are the only way to fly.
Southern auto trips with the folks always meant a stop a Stuckey's, home of deadly Divinity Fudge and perilous Pecan Logs.
Former Jersey girl here. I think we need (or need more of):
1. WaWa
2. Real diners that are open 24 hours
3. Small, independently owned pizza places that serve good pizza and hoagies
4. Indie coffee shops that are open very late (the 24 hour Starbucks on 7th St doesn't count)
5. Rita's Water Ice (there are a few around here, but not enough!)
6. Chick-Fil-A (again, as others have noted, there are some but i wish there were more)
7. BYOB restuarants
8. Decent bakeries. Why doesn't anyone outside of the NJ/NYC/Philly area know how to make good bread??
I was in Mt. Pleasant/Columbia Heights for two years before moving back to southern California. And while I won't complain about living within a three-mile radius of two In-N-Outs, I do get the occasionally hankering for burgers from Ollie Trolley at 12th and E. Though, the best burger I ate in the metro area was, shamefully, at Mon Ami Gabi, a French restaurant next to the Bethesda Row Cinema. A juicy burger with fries and a bowl of lobster bisque. Fantastic.
#15, the place you are thinking of on Wisconsin is a Steak & Egg Kitchen, not a Waffle House.
Wow. What a great call on RAX! Without a doubt, a million times better than Arbys!!!!
FYI to commenter number 4, the Chick-Fil-A at AU is closed, as is all the food places in that building. If I cared enough, I might know when (or if) they were opening back up, but I really don't.
I don't know if this qualifies as fast food, but I'm missing Little Ceasar's Crazy Bread like...well...crazy. Buttery-parmesan-doughy-goodness, where are you??
There's a Friendly's in Silver Spring (I think I gained 10 pounds the summer three of my best friends worked there) and there's definitely a WaWa in College Park on Route 1. Not that I think you would, but don't go at 2 am on Saturday night, you will be met with 23894739 college students. Amazing food to eat when you're drunk, though.
On a roadtrip to Tennessee earlier this summer I had my first Sonic experience...it was good! The slushes are awesome, the food is average. There's one on the way to Ocean City though, on the other side of the Bay. I forget exactly where but I always pass it.
#5 are you from Cincinnati? My dad grew up there and still makes his parents send cans of their chili sometimes, hehe. And it's funny to see someone clamoring for more Dunkin Donuts - I go to school in Boston now, where I think they outnumber Starbucks. New England is definitely Dunkin territory.
Jersey girl, as a native Jerseyan, I think the bagels and bakeries there are better because the water is different there. Yes, I really think this.
Everett, from exit 8.
And the best thing about Wawa is that it sells Tastykakes. If we're gonna get real about the junk food, let's talk Entemann's and Tastykake.
I can't believe nobody's mentioned Roy Rogers. The DC area used to be littered with them, but the only one I've seen in years is at BWI (if that one even exists anymore). When I was a fat kid, I'd routinely indulge in the Gold Rush, the bacon cheeseburger, and the Roy's Roast Beef.
Um, yeah, all once. Shut up.
As a former Texan, I miss 24-hour taquerias where the food is really good and really cheap: gigantic tortas are less than $4, the tacos pastor are $1.35 and the cerveza is $2. If anyone knows of any good late night taquerias (no $7 tacos please) I will be in your debt forever.
...and I miss Whataburgers for the best burgers South of the Mason-Dixon (and also 24-hours).
I mean all AT once.
Tubby's from Detroit. Their subs beat Quiznos and Subway hands down! Also National Coney Island from Detroit for a great 24 hour diner type place!
If #5 is from Cincy, I'm very jealous, because they've got the trifecta of great tasting/bad for you foods: Skyline, Goetta, and Graeter's.
Raising Cane's in Lousiana: www.raisingcanes.com. The best chicken fingers, made to order, along with crinkle cut fries, texas toast, and secret dipping sauce. Everytime I go home, it's a must!
1. Friendly's
2. Sonic
3. Dunkin Donuts
4. Amato's (sub shop chain in Maine, makes the best Italians ever!)
There is a Chick-Fil-A at the Ballston "mall", but it's a food court version of course.
I miss Whataburger (as in "What a burger!"). http://www.whataburger.com/
A south (east and west) chain usually open 24 hours.
Delicious.
Amen to Sonic -- I always get cheddar bites with ranch dressing and a cherry-vanilla Dr. Pepper. They have the best ice ever (those little pellets)!
Also amen to Steak and Shake.
And do not forget Gumby's Pizza, a college town staple -- the pizza sucks but their Pokey Stix are so, SO good. With ranch dressing, of course, not the marinara crap. I am drooling right now thinking about them.
The 'Wafle House' in 'Del Ray is not part of the chain. In fact, it is not even called Waffle house; it's Waffle Shop: http://alexandriadailyphoto.wordpress.com/tag/chirilagua/
The Wafle House in Del Ray is neither a real "Waffle House" or actually in Del Ray. That part of Alexandria in actually Chirilagua...check it out: 100% Salvadorian
I would kill for a D'angelo's around here. Yum! I also second the call for more Dunkin Donuts. It should be pretty obvious where I am from.
Maybe this isn't fast food, but there is no good pizza in the district. We need more pizza.
I think the Laurel Little Tavern is the last one operating. I'm pretty sure they shuttered and sold the Wheaton one. There's a Little Tavern building in north Old Town; it used to be a Jerry's Sub shop but folded. I often fantasize about buying it and re-opening it as a Little Tavern. Then I see the Wendy's across the street and realize why it folded in the first place. Customers would probably wonder why I was ripping off Matchbox's burgers and why didn't I use brioche bread and I'd have to kick their asses up by their shoulderblades and change my identity and move to Bakersfield. I'm not going to jail again.
I gotta say, whenever I'm in Bowie I always stop by the Chik-fil-A just to experience the ruthlessly efficient service: from order to door in seconds. Clean, the cashiers speak clearly and don't act like this is some kind of punishment, they read the order back to confirm, and I'm gone. If being run by Christians and being closed on Sunday is what it takes, some of the fastfood dumps around here need to look into that s**t.
I'd be happy if they just brought back the Hardees in the Greyhound station downtown. Seedy, greasy, and the best Monster Thickburger ever.
And the Del Ray Wafle Shop was originally part of the the local Waffle Shop chain that included the one across from Ford's Theater (R.I.P. if it hasn't folded already) and the one in Columbia Heights. There used to be a Waffle Shop at the corner of King and Washington back in the 1960s.
Bojangles'!!! Breakfast all day, yummy fried chicken, and sweet tea by the half gallon.
dc dawg - I too miss the Jack...
Love the In-N-Out and the greasy heart-stopping goodness of a good Tommy burger. Miss the late nights at Pete's and what used to be one of the best displays of hot rods on a Saturday night at Jim's. But I won't move back to la-la-land just for that.
Within the city, we need convenient Arby's and Taco Bell. What I wouldn't give for a Chalupa right now.
I really think we need a Village Inn around here. Not only do they have yummy pies and pancakes, but they let you sit there as long as you want. Many were the hours I whiled away at several VI locations in high school and college, talking or reading or whatever.
What about Grottos (pizza)? I wish they would expand outside of Delaware.
VJ - There are 5 Roy Rogers south of the Beltway in Alexandria. The one near Belvoir does a tidy business off long-haul tourbuses, and at the one in Belle Haven off the Parkway, the median customer age is 206. Roy's chicken is a little on the salty side, but their roast beef is still decent, not the injection-molded beef-style "product" you'd find at Arby's, which I am convinced is genetically modified and engineered from Rosie O'donnell's nutsack.
Weinerschnitzel at 2am for mini corn dogs!
And ToGo's beats Subway and Quiznos.
I was looking at the Chick fil a website earlier this summer (yup, I'm that girl) and they have 4 locatons in DC...all at universities. They have them at GW, American, Catholic and Howard. As a GW Alum who was pissed when they ditched it in the Marvin Center I'm glad they brought it back. I don't know if it's at all difficult to infiltrate the other locations if you're not a student but the GW one would totally work, if you feel like trekking down to Foggy Bottom.
We need us a Tim Horton's, stat. If they're going to expand outside of Greater Canada -- and they've got them in Kentucky and West Virginia now -- they should definitely open one here. Hell, if you opened one up in the Canadian Embassy, you'd basically have a license to mint loonies.
I didn't see anyone mention this, but Chik-Fil-A returned to GW for the 2006-2007 session. I assume it will still be there when classes start back up in the fall.
That's great news about the GW Chik A Fil! I ate there literally every day for a semester.
As a southerner -- Georgia, to be specific -- one of the hardest things about moving to DC is the lack of Waffle House (or "WaHo" as we call it back home). In the span of 3 miles, there will literally be 4 WaHos, sometimes one right down the road from another.
When I went hiking last fall in Maryland, I think I literally squeeled with joy when I saw the warming yellow and black sign. I knew where I was gonna stop for dinner after a long day's hike. It was glorious.
It's not Del Ray? Is that a new designation? Or is it like, four blocks from what the locals call Del Ray? I used to live over there, I never even heard of that other neighborhood name.
And frankly I'm happy it's not a real Waffle House, cuz it was a little greasy and depressing. Maybe I'll give Waffle House another chance.
Really, for the best waffles and pancakes anywhere in town, go to the Original Pancake House in Bethesda. They're amazing. But don't try to go between 9:30 and 1 on the weekends, unless you want to stand around looking at the fountain.
VJ there is a metro accessible Roy Rogers. It’s off of the Franconia/Springfield metro about 1/2 mile from the station in the Manchester Lakes shopping center.
There are three or four standalone Chik-Fil-As along US 301/MD Rt. 3.
To those who don't get Waffle House--which, you don't really go for the waffles, you go for the hash browns and the Waffle House jukeboxes with Waffle House songs--I say, I don't get Dunkin Donuts. Sorry. I've been to "real" ones in the New England and Northeast area, and I've been to that disgrace of one on 17th St. Don't like the coffee, don't like the donuts. I guess it all comes down to which vice you prefer: sugar or grease.
citymouse: There's a Taco Bell on 14th at U St.
This native Texan is missing:
1) SONIC.
2) Whataburger
3) Pappasitos/Pappadeux
4) Cheap-ass genuine Mexican places where you expect bugs in the chips, but can order enough food for 3 meals for less than $10. I'm so tired of Don Pablo's, seriously...
5) Taco Bueno
6) Real barbeque joints
7) Long John Silver's
Growing up in Columbus, OH...I definitely missed White Castle when I was living in the DC area. I would cheat and get the frozen ones at the supermarket....they weren't the same, but they were close.
Chicken Filet combo with an individual tea from Bojangles...mmm
Can anyone ever really be a former Jersey Girl?
I don't need Boston-style Dunkins density, just one or two downtown. You'd have a license to print money if you opened up a Dunkins on 7th. I don't care that there's a Starbucks right there. All us Northeastern transplants will pick Dunkins over Starbucks hands down.
As for bakeries, there is a Le Pain Quotidien opening up in Georgetown soon. The ones in NYC have pretty good bread.
Although I'm a fan of the Florida Ave Grill, Steak & Egg on Wisconsin Ave, and I wish DC had more breakfast-y places. Chains like Village Inn or even Denny's. When I lived in Atlanta, creative, homey places like Flying Biscuit or Crescent Moon were common b'fast spots. Don't see as much of that here.
And while we're at it, bring Jack in the Box, and either Krystal or White Castle to the market. Both concepts would flourish if they were to expand to the DC market. They'd be unique enough, and there's enough brand recognition for them among many residents. Sonic would be great for the burbs, but difficult to do in the city.
Waffle Houses are nasty. i don't know if its the i-miss-home craziness in you all talking or what, but i ate at one once, in harrisonburg, va, and i was turned off forever. if i recall correctly, the location we were at didn't even accept credit cards....
there is one very near to where my parents live (in dumfries, va) and i can guarantee you i will never step foot in that place ever.
also...what is the deal with Wawa? my bf, who is originally from NJ, loves them. we usually trek out to the one in woodbridge, where he buys his 2-ft. hoagies and reminisces about how yummy they are whenever he doesn't have one nearby. can't say i see the appeal, personally.
I miss Roy Rogers too. There was one close to me where I gew up in Laurel, and I often ate at the Roy's in the Student Union when I went to UMD.
I've been to a couple at reststops on I95 but they let everything sit under heat lamps and get nasty.
The last time I had a good, fresh meal at a RR was in Frederick, about two years ago.
There's a Sonic on New Hampshire Avenue just over the District line in Maryland in whatever city that is -- Takoma Park, perhaps. And you've forgotten to mention (although it's pictured above) -- Jack in the Box and Carl's Jr. I miss Carl's Jr. probably the most of the California fast food places.
Has anyone tried Pollo Campero? There are a few in are area now. Excellent chicken.
For those from Texas, Taco Cabana is the king of fast food
deutres,
The Wawa appeal is that somehow they've found a formula that makes a convenience store not have to be a disgusting place with nothing but prepackaged tastycakes and motor oil. They have much better stocked groceries, fresh food and sandwiches made to order, fresh coffee, and everything else a normal convenience store has. Honestly, we used to buy gallon milk there more often than the regular grocery store. It boggles the mind to imagine that in a world where Wawa has so clearly cracked the code of convenience store excellence, that we are still putting up with the other garbage that's out there. It doesn't hit all cylinders at 100%, but it's reliable and doesn't do anything below 85%.
Sorry to bust anyone downtown's bubble, but if they're not taking the Chik-fil-a out at GW entirely, it's been bastardized into... well, God knows what this means: "Chick-Fil-A will become an express location that allows patrons to serve themselves."
http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2007/06/20/News/Colonial.Cash.J.Street.To.Change-2916887.shtml
Good hoagies are essential to life. Lee's Hoagie House is maybe three stores in southeast Pennsylvania, but Goddamn are they delicious. I've never heard anything about water affecting the rolls, but I have heard that elevation does something that stops it from rising. Somebody truck in some Italian bread from Philadelphia and make me a real hoagie; it's not even that far of a trip.
Also Yum Yum Donuts. (Another one with maybe 4 stores where I grew up.) Dunkin Donuts are shit compared to Yum Yum.
WifeRat is from North Dakota and while driving out there a few Summers ago I developed a taste for a place called Culver's, home of the ButterBurger and they also delicious frozen custard.
Everett - Your encyclopedic knowledge of all area Chik-Fil-A outlets leaves me in awe.
amen to [64]. bojangles is awesome.
as is biscuitville.
i never thought a fast food topic would get this many requests! I can't even begin to read them all. I will say that it's a travesty that people from NJ eat ChikfilA. I would think it to run contrary to the "war of nothern agression" peace agreement.
- the english major
I'll second the call for Tim Horton's...
There's a Chik-fil-a at Howard
Jack in the Box is expanding to DC in the next few years. There's already a Qudoba on E Street (same company)!
Some clarifications:
The Waffle Shop in Alexandria is not in Del Ray, or Chirilagua, it is in "Arlandria". The Waffle Shop used to be a DC-regional chain.
I love Waffle House. It's one of my road-trip must stops.
I originally grew up in Delaware. Grotto pizza makes we want to puke from all that grease, so it can stay there. DC could do a lot better.
Jerseygirl, I miss your diners. Alas, there are no Greeks or Italians in these parts, so no good diners, and no good pizza either.
With regarding to breadfast food, one of my measurements is the availability of grits and scrapple. DE isn't really in the grit belt, but I love em. The top scrapple maker was 14mi from my house, so that was always on the menu. When I travel I always like to observe which is on the menu. Too far south, no scrapple. Too far north, no grits. Sometimes, you hit places that have neither, and sometimes you hit the jackpot and they have both.
Ditto Roy Rogers and Dunkin Donuts. I heard somewhere that DD was planning to expand...
I used to be up in Eastern PA and never saw a damned Sonic up there, either. And you see a Sonic commercial every 5 minutes up there, too. Where the hell are these things??
I will say that it's a travesty that people from NJ eat ChikfilA. I would think it to run contrary to the "war of nothern agression"
What? I was born in Jersey and went to college there, and I LOVE Chik-Fil-A; all this talk has me thinking about hitting Landmark Mall tonight for a fix.
Amen, WestCoastPat. I
As for late-night diners, Bob and Edith's in Arlington always reminds me of an upscale Waffle House.
It'll never happen, but D.C. needs an authentic Chicago-style hot dog place. New York hasn't even gotten it right yet, so I'm sure there's little hope for D.C.
Barring that, count me in with those above who want a D'Angelos. One of the few good things about venturing up into Assachusetts.
I 2nd the call for Carl's Jr. It's always my first meal stop when I go home to CA.
Also, my first summer job was making sandwiches as Togo's, so I have soft spot for them. Much better than Subway or Quizno's.
I can't believe no one has mentioned the tater tots from Sonic - I used to go there every other day for those back in high school in Arizona. Except now there's In-N-Out in AZ, which is always my first stop after leaving the airport when I'm home to visit.
And if you can stomach the health violations, the super cheap taco stands that are everywhere in the Southwest for amazing quesadillas and horchata.
I grew up in Tucson, AZ where we had this local chain called Eegees. They serve fruity slush drinks (excellent on a hot day) and hoagie type sandwiches.
I too wish there was a convenient Dairy Queen. I love their butterscotch sundays!
I've only been to a Waffle House a few times, and I have to say I don't get it.
hmcd128 already beat me to it, but yes--you don't go to Waffle House for the waffles. Duh. You go for the hash browns. And the sweet tea.
Oh yeah - I also miss Jack-n-the box!
I know there are couple: But more Carvel's. A nice soft serve vanilla cone sounds like heaven today. I just can't make it to Columbia Heights.
79 - True, no Greek or Italian community in DC, and all the classic diners are gone. But you still have some good Greek-run joints serving diner fare: Anthony's in Falls Church, Primo in Belle Haven, Atlantis off King Street. Cheap and greasy burgers, fries, meatloaf, roast chicken, and gyros can be found, just not downtown.
It's interesting this thread's fondness for cheap-cheap-and-greasy when the industry trend for fast food is "fast casual" with more upscale trendy food and ingredients.
As a native California Boy I really do miss In-and Out as well as Jack-in-the-Crack, but the thing I really miss...especially coming from the Bay Area: good bread. Not only Bay Area sourdough but also having bakeries all over the places as well as the various Bagel joints, at least two every mile.
I forgot to add in another vote for Tim Horton's.
Delaware native again...
They expanded to "slower" Delaware, so I can go there when I visit. Their coffee is better than Dunkin, and like a previous poster said, they raised the standard for convenience stores, and thankfully put some pressure on others (i.e. some Royal Farms are decent). Having public restrooms and fee-free ATMS definately is a draw too.
Ah, Carvel! Home of Cookie Puss and Cookie O'Puss!
FYI, links are SAFE for work, sicko.
I second (third?) Taco Cabana and other Tex Mex places!
Here's another native Texan chiming in on the serious need for a Sonic and a Whataburger within close striking range. I can honestly say that the first meal my wife and I shared together as a married couple was Whataburger at 6 am the day after our wedding. And it was glorious... You can get packets of salsa for the taquitos that are actually salsa- not the crap from Taco Bell.
The first thing I have to have upon heading back to DFW though is Chicken Express. There aren't a whole lot of them, but man they're good. Chicken strips that are just the right amount of fried so they're still juicy and tea sweet enough to send you into diabetic shock.
#33, #39 -- from Indianapolis, not Cincinnati (used to live in Dunkin' heaven in Boston, too!), but I did live in Cincy for a summer. Agree on Goetta and Graeter's, and would add Montgomery Inn to the list of great local treats there (I will occasionally order barbecue sauce from there).
Incidentally, Graeter's, Skyline, and Montgomery Inn are occasionally available in NYC at Edward's in Tribeca, which does a "Cincinnati night" from time to time.
People, people: there is a Chik-Fil-A in Silver Spring, not far from the metro. It's over by Chipotle and all the movie theaters.
This area sorely needs a good old ice cream stand type facility. It sucks that going out for ice cream around here means Ben and Jerry's or that bourgie Coldstone dreck. I just want a big-ass softserve cone... unfortunately I think that such ice cream stands are too rural for this area.
I too lament the lack of decent 24-horu diners. There's Platos in College Park but I don't think it's 24-hour. Tastee Diner is disgusting and horrible. Other than that... what, the Diner in A-M? Right.
While not as classy as a Waffle House, I do wish there was a Sheetz in the city. Gas, made to order food and pink dotz cookies make me a happy girl.
#73 - Are you from Southwestern PA?? I haven't heard anyone mention Yum Yum Donuts in years.
Speaking of Pittsburgh-area specialties: I'd LOVE LOVE to see an Eat 'N Park (or, more affectionately called Scarf 'N Vomit) in the area. For those of you who don't know, they're like Denny's - except their deserts are amazing, and the 'Smiley' cookies are TO DIE FOR.
Oh, some days I do miss home!
All right, let's get into it. I've spent 10 years in this town, now, and I've looked really hard for:
the best burger
the best pizza
the best diner
that DC has to offer. Some day I could write a real post about this, but I'm actually busy at work this week (imagine!). Top three in each category, as I see 'em:
Burgers -- Five Guys, Tonic (which might drop off my list soon if they don't get the service in gear), and Booeymonger
Pizza -- Valentino's in Annandale (real NY style), Ella's, and 2Amys
Diner -- there is no good diner IN DC, but there's the Silver Spoon on Rockville Pike, and a great Greek place in Columbia whose name escapes me.
And for all you people hankerin' for a Friendly's, take a drive to Glen Burnie, MD for your sundae fix.
You may all thank me later.
A lot of former Texans on here?
guest 65, you from Houston? I second your calls on fast food misses, especially SONIC (best grilled cheese ever), Pappasitos/deux, and ANY low rent Tex-Mext joint. Seriously how hard can it me to make guacamole table-side that doesn't cost $17? But i digress, we are talking about FAST food afterall.
Whataburger is a good drunk drive thru, but Taco Cabana, while desparate at best during the day, turns into a beacon of potential hang-over salvation in the wee hours of the night.
DCfist - Google "frozen custard washington dc." Don't know if they carry big-ass as a topping. I'd stick with the crumbled Orios.
sorry previous post intended for guest 62 not 65
ShawnDC, I grew up in Tucson, too. And now I want a Lemon Eegees SO BAD. Damn you.
Rubios.
BIG BOY!!!!!!! (Marc's or otherwise)
We also need good chicago style Pizza. Sorry Armand's, but putting a pound of cheese on a regular pizza does not a Chicago pizza make. And despite the name, Uno's is nothing like real Chicago deep dish pizza.
i definitely second the gumby's recognition for the pokey sticks alone. best 2am drunk food EVER. when they shut down the location at my school, i refused to delete the number from my cell phone for the longest time because that would mean admitting that it was actually GONE.
and oh my god FAZOLI'S. it's kind of a joke in my family how obsessed i was with it when i was a kid. they had them out in ohio/indiana near my grandparents, and i knew every reststop and exit that had one, and would refuse to eat at earlier stops if i knew there was one coming up later on the highway. once we got to my grandparent's place, we'd go there for lunch pretty much every day of our visit. the best part is the breadstick lady, who comes around every 5-10 minutes with a big basket of hot, garlicky goodness to distribute. just thinking about it makes me want to hop in my car and find the nearest one
Guest no. 92: This native San Franciscan completely agrees with you about bread, especially sourdough, which just never tastes the same anywhere else. The pungent taste of real S.F. sourdough always reminds me of the wharf. As for chains, I always miss Noah's Bagels, but no one around here seems to have heard of it.
Ohhh...love love love the Gumbys Pokey stix. Every time I go back to a town that has a Gumbys I bring some Pokey stix back with me.
Bojangles: You can't go wrong with the iced tea, sausage biscuit, and seasoned fries. Sigh.
monkeyrotica,
All I'm finding is stuff in Kensington, Vienna, and Alexandria - all places I frequent exactly .001% of the time.
On the subject of ice cream, anyone remember about ten years ago when McDonald's would sell their "ice cream" "cones" for a quarter a pop in the summer? Oh man. I used to go there several times a day...
big boy. yes!! the one in annandale was fantastic. everett--valentino's is awesome, and i get it whenever i'm at home. in, cough, annandale.
the real question is, who from the vast wasteland of nova remembers hot shoppes?? (either the one on columbia pike or in tyson's, the cafeteria, or the sit-down place in bailey's crossroads). the mighty moe--a patty melt with some sort of thousand island dressing--was my favorite.
not quite fast food, but happy memories.
YES for D'Angelos.
Dunkin Donuts is good too.
Everett, I think you're on to something. A few of my relatives and I were gathered in NJ last weekend, and we happened to wander into a cafe selling what we affectionately refer to as "Trenton cookies" (regardless of whether they are actually made in Trenton or not). You know the ones. I've never seen them outside NJ or Phildelphia. My aunt, who nows lives in Southern VA, was trying to get a recipe out of the baker, but it sounded like any basic cookie recipe. So it must be the water.
I was explaining the merits of WaWa to my girlfriend the other day (this seems to be a common hobby among former New Jersians). Basically, it boils down to this: when I walk into any other convenince store, I have no desire to eat anything there. A trip to 7-11 is one of the best appetite suppressants I know of. However, when I walk into a WaWa I'm immediately hit with smells of good coffee and fresh hoagies (on nice rolls and loaded with meat, unlike the sorry excuses for sandwiches you get at most places). And everything is spotless and the employees and clientele aren't creepy. They have cheap gas, too.
Jersey Girl
The best thing about WaWa is placing your order on a touch screen computer. No human interaction necessary!
I guess there's not Royal Farms stores in DC. Their fries are like crack.
Sommer: Another Tucsonan in DC...who knew! We are few and far between around these here parts...
I'm partial to Strawberry Eegees myself. It's definitely on the "must have" list when I return to AZ to visit the family.
Unfortunately I can't think of any other local specialties that I can't do without (except for perhaps good, cheap Mexican food).
DCfist - Try Philadelphia Water Ice Factory, 1204 H Street NE, around the corner from Horace & Dickies. They specialize in Italian water ice (like Rita's), but they also do icecream by the scoop, and soft serve. It's just a walk up window, no seating.
Steak & Shake was my first true love.
oh wow, hot shoppes! ha! i remember going to the one in tyson's when i was a teenager (20+ years ago!) and seeing leathery, orange, bad-combover george michael (the sportscaster, not the wham guy) eating there. he looked so old and scary, i can't even imagine what he looks like in person NOW. eek.
i have to say that in-n-out burger is awesome. YUM.
You can't mention Cookie Puss without Fudgie the Whale. I'm just sayin'.
For those Louisiana folks among us, they recently opened a Raising Canes in Charlottesville. Admittedly, it's a two hour drive down 29N, but it's closer than LA.
I'm surprised that we don't have a Waffle House or a Stuckey's nearby - DC is technically the South, you know.
Thanks monkeyrotica. I also did find info on Dickies. I shall try those - not far from here.
Good call on Stuckey's to whoever said that. Their divinity is, uh... divine.
Philadelphia Water Ice is good stuff, BabyRat is a big fan; about once a week she asks if we can go get "ice water". The cheese steaks at PWI are also damn tasty, but unless you're going to go to the Palace of Wonders and have a drink while you wait or buy some stuff for your car at AutoZone, I suggest calling ahead.
Agreed on Fudgie the whale. He accompanied many an early birthday of the Evster. I also really liked the hamburger shack on Rte 33 in Hightstown (that's where I grew up), but now it's a bicycle shop. I think Crazy Eddie's, Carvel, Wawa, avocado-colored kitchen appliances, Tastykake, and Quaker Bridge Mall will always be in my brain as The 1970s. Even if some of that stuff is around today.
Tear!
Meanwhile, I miss the term Hoagies. And for those of you actually from Trenton, I know you know what a tomato pie is.
I'm from Indianapolis as well and I second the Buffalo Wild Wings and Steak n' Shake sentiments of #5/#97, but would like to add Jimmy Johns, which is the first place I head when I go back to Indy (sad, I know).
I would add Howard Johnson's - fried clam strips and peppermint ice cream. My brother and sister and I used to go there all the time with our grandparents.
There's a Jimmy John's across the street from my office, in Alexandria, off the King Street Metro.
HR, you should let me and the soon-to-be missus know when you are heading there next, since she's never had it yet. Of course we all may melt on the sidewalk before we reach it, at this point.
Noelle - SF sourdough is unique, because there is a particular bacteria in SF that affects the taste of the bread. I watch too much FoodTV. I do wish it was possible to get a decent sourdough loaf in this town.
Also have to give a shout out to Wahoo's Fish Tacos. Their bowls blow Chipotle out of the water.
and, because it bears repeating, In-N-Out and Del Taco are the only way to fly.
hillrat, i'll second your call for Culvers and up the ante with another Wisconsin chain: Cousin's Subs
also, can we get a real jewish deli up in here?
#5/97: GRAETER'S! Dear GOD, the only reason I enjoy visiting my dad's family in Cincy. Best chocolate chips in the universe. I'm living in NYC this summmer - I MUST find out if there's one of these Cincy nights before I leave, thanks for the tip...
Right on to whoever mentioned the area needs more Rita's and Sheetz. I go on roadtrips just for Sheetz on the highway.
The Chik-fil-A in Silver Spring is indeed walkable from the metro!
Marriot Corp wouldn't exist today if it wasn't for Hot Shoppes. The first one ever was off 14th and Park Road NW. Need to get those bastards to revive the brand. Who here remembers the sphincter-clenching horror that was the Mighty Mo? Went through you like a Ferrari, they did.
There are a few Bojangles in the area, including a couple inside the beltway.
We may not have Sonic, but at least Checkers has Rap Cat!
#126- This is #124 and you just made my afternoon! (Shows you how much I make it out to Alexandria, which would be 3 times in the 3 years I lived here, embarrassingly enough.)
Ahh this is one of the reasons I can't wait to get back to Chicago. For the all around greatest greasy food we need a Depot here (polish sausage, burgers, hot dogs, bacon egg and cheese sandwich), and maybe Harold's Chicken Shack could expand to DC. Also like #107 said we need some REAL deep dish pizza. And a real hot dog place; not like that overpriced piece of crap in Adams Morgan.
Is there anyone else who craves the special Fredericksburg Chick-Fil-A sauce? The orange colored stuff they used to have in a dispenser over by the ketchup. When I moved away from Fredericksburg I was shocked and appalled that not all Chick-Fil-As stocked the stuff...apparently it is a franchisee's secret recipe.
#135 - the closest you'll come to the Depot around here is the Billy Goat Tavern (owned by a Chicagoan) - located on New Jersey and 1st, NW.
#135 - We have a real hotdog place, it's just that they don't serve Chicago dogs. DC's a halfsmoketown. When in Rome...
And if someone does open a Chicago dog stand (with the poppy seed buns, and the neon green relish, and the sport peppers), they need to serve Italian beef while they're at it.
OK, I saw some Tucsonans post here - it IS eegees weather! Please help me, I've been trying to remember the name of these little drive-up Mexican fast-food places they had all over town (I lived there in the 90's). There was one near 1st and Grant, and another on Grant I think near Alvernon. They had GREAT machaca and carne asada burritos. Anyone remember the name? They were always getting written up for health code violations, but the food was good, in a nasty greasy kind of way.
I'm surprised none of you Texans, particularly you South Texans (San Antonio/Austin) have mentioned Bill Miller's BBQ. I lived there in the late '90s, and spent my grad school years either in class at UTSA or in Bill Millers, eating their brisket and drinking their iced tea by the gallon. I left the area smarter and fatter. Have since lost the weight, but not the occassional hankering for a Bill Miller sandwich...
Goodness. Can't keep up.
Fondest food memories:
upstate, NY:
Schaller's Drive-In - I don't eat meat anymore but I still miss their burgers.
Abbot's - Best. Frozen. Custard. Ever.
and of course, Nick Tahoe's (but that's more the experience than the food).
Ann Arbor:
Stucchi's Ice Cream (which, according to their website, is soon opening up in NY)
Those chipati salad bowl things (I don't remember the name of the place that made them...)
North Carolina:
Cook Out - real milk shakes and hush puppies at a drive through.
Actually, Cook Out is the only one that would qualify as fast food. They had a huge variety of shake flavors too. Good stuff.
I sitll miss the Irish Pizza Pub.
Okay, Everett, I'll bite:
Best burger: Timberlake's, leading a surprisingly tough field. Honorable mention to the Brewburger at D.A.'s RFD; marinating hamburger in Kostritzer Black creates an enjoyably unique burger experience.
Best pizza: Go to www.edwardos.com and order a frozen pizza for two-day delivery. Unfortunately, truly top-notch pizza is not sold outside the Chicago-Milwaukee-northern Indiana megalopolis.
Best diner: Either the Silver Spoon or, for the college nostalgia value, Bob & Edith's.
#139 - Re: Tucson drive-up Mexican food. Are you thinking of Casa Molina's?
#135 again
A halfsmoke is not a hot dog. It's more like a polish, but not nearly as good. And I'm not driving to shirlington for a halfsmoke.
Mmmm... D'Angelo's! Count me in as another Northeasterner who wants one of those.
Definitely Bojangles. It's strange that there aren't even any as far north as Richmond. I wonder if it has to do with where the company does its TV/print advertising.
Waffle House is great. Even though half the stuff on their menu is inedible (i.e. the steak), there are still 20 or 30 things that are great. An excellent cheap snack when driving through the South late at night.
There used to be many Roy Rogers and Friendlys in the northern VA area.
I don't get Dunkin Donuts at all. Horrible coffee, horrible breakfast sandwiches, and passable donuts. They can stay in the Northeast.
Five Guys is a respectable In-n-Out substitute although they need to add milkshakes to the menu!
#124 -- Jimmy John's in Alexandria
330 John Carlyle St
Tel: 703-836-5160
#124 -- Jimmy John's in Alexandria
330 John Carlyle St
Tel: 703-836-5160
Jimmy John's in College Park
7410 A Baltimore Ave.
Tel: 301-927-7827
Jimmy John's is disgusting. What good can be said about a sub place that advertises on their shirts all the things they don't have? (we don't toast your sub, we don't really have vegetables, etc etc)
hillrat, i'll second your call for Culvers and up the ante with another Wisconsin chain: Cousin's Subs
also, can we get a real jewish deli up in here?
Well Deli City is not Jewish (as far as I know) but they do roast their own corned beef and pastrami that are the best I've had in the area BY FAR. The Reuben there is a thing of beauty.
2200 Bladensburg Rd NE
Washington, DC 20018
(202) 526-1800
Also, 147 posts and ne'er a mention of race, gentrification, or city vs burbs dick waving!! Is this some sort of record?
Monkey:
The Chick-Fil-A in Bowie is indeed a palace of delights.
Yes, they are run by super-fundie Christians.
But the service in that particular one is great, the food is hot, etc. So much so that I felt I'd been temporarily transported to a much happier place.
As another poster pointed out, so many of these places mentioned are in the burbs. It's time we hip urbanites admitted that when it comes to 'good food that's fast' (the fast food industry's preferred terminology), the burbs pretty much have DC beat.
Even the Five Guys that have ventured into the city end up not being as good as their suburban counterparts.
Whoops, sorry Hillrat. I didn't mean to break your magical 'city vs suburbs' discussion ban. For what it's worth, at least it was a city resident giving credit to the burbs....
Has anyone noticed how McDonalds has pretty much taken over the off-the-interstate fast food market all throughout the NE? Used to be there were Roy Rogers and all kinds of other choices. Now it seems it's mostly just McDonalds.
Even the Five Guys that have ventured into the city end up not being as good as their suburban counterparts.
It's been my experience that it varies from store to store; the Chinatown 5 Guys was pretty bad the last time I was there, but the Navy Yard outlet is consistently excellent.
Indeed the best "ethnic" (read: non-American) food is to be found outside of the city. Better Indian, Caribbean, Asian, etc. In town? Tripe like Dos Gringos.
SONIC
Rat: You have a point. The Navy Yard Five Guys is consistently good.
I remember the Roy's at the Student Union too. I also remember when they changed it. :(
Vj- There are at least couple of Roy Roger's in Montgomery county. One is in Gaithersburg, close to Lakeforest Mall and the other one is in Germantown. I think it's of 118.
Also, just a little confession. When I travel I love to go to these different fast food places. I actually make it a point to do so. I tried Inand Out when in CA and thought it was soo good.
So long as we're confessing- I love going to unique locations of chain stores. Things like the original (as in very first, still standing) Whataburger in Corpus Christi, or the McDonalds that stretches OVER the interstate outside Tulsa Oklahoma, or the McDonalds in Prague that accepts at least 5 different currencies and has menus in a dozen languages. As you would expect, "Chicken McNugget" doesn't translate all that well into anything else...
Anybody remember Burger Chef (and Jeff) ?
Or Pappy Parker's Fried Chicken ?
I DO!
What about Hot Shoppes ?
Now everything's F@#$%^&king McDooDoo's...
Oh, I miss Roy Rogers!!! Altho they're making a little bit of a comeback, there's 1 in Gaithersburg & 1 in Germantown. LOVED their burgers.
There IS a WaahhWaaah on Rte 1 in College Park.
Is the last of the Lil Taverns still there on Rte 1 in Laurel? Not too far from the only unaltered original Tastee Diner?
Waffle Shop downtown on 10th St is still hanging on, tho I wonder for how much longer.
And there IS a Waffle House in Urbana, MD.
But when I was driving down I-81 2 weeks ago, I saw signs for a chain called Omelet Shoppe???
Yes, as mentioned above, there is a Chick-fil-A at GW, but it has horrible service (being run by Sodexho and not as a usual franchise). Don't know if the new serve-yourself setup will change that-- doubt it. I'd sometimes wait for 20 minutes (with only 5 people in line in front of me)-- they were often out of items, would abruptly close down cash registers, and one time, travesty of travesties, were out of the normal CFA chicken. I got a chicken sandwich that strongly resembled a Wendy's chicken sandwich. A crime.
I'll still brave it when I get the cravings, but go when you have the time to wait and the patience to deal.
Ok, here we go: first there are about 3-4 Bojangles in the area, all in PG county. They got rid of the classic style chicken though. Where people are thinking that they are seeing Sonic in DC, they're seeing Checker's, which is garbage, in terms of both service and food. There are 2 Waffle Houses in the area that I can think of, one in Frederick, and one in Dumfries. There is a Sonic near Fredericksburg, too.
But to be honest, after living in TX twice, I miss Dickey's BBQ, Taco Cabana, Braum's Ice Cream, and Cafe Express. When me and the wife went to her hometown in NC last month, we ate nothing but Bojangles and Sonic for 2 days straight! Just the difference in the quality of service was enough to keep me coming back. Everyone spoke English, and no one was on crack (as far as I could tell).
#145 - Weenie Beenie serves regular dogs as well as halfsmokes. Same with Ben's. Problem is, they aren't very good. The halfsmokes are.
Like I said, DC is a halfsmoke town. Complaining about the lousy Chicago dogs here is like going to Chicago and complaining about the lousy New York dogs there. When you go to Louisiana, you get hot boudin from roadside vendors because that's what they do well. When you're trapped in Sheboygan, you eat brats because they're good. I'm sure you could get Chicago dogs at both places, but why would you want to?
And Deli City is kosher-style, whatever that means. I assume they don't have a rabbi "kosherize" the cooking area with kosher salt and laser beams and those talmudic baseball bats. But the cook there is definitely doing God's work with corned beef. Makes every other deli in DC look like a pile of puke. If you have a girlfriend with no teeth, she can eat this stuff and will be forever grateful to you. She might even show that gratefulness when you get back to her place, you sly dog.
Do people in Bangalore complain about the lousy Italian food there?
Jersey girl--
Not everyone wants a freakin bagel in the morning. Why do people from that area think that is the penultimate breakfast food?
Um, so don't eat a bagel in the morning. For those of us who love them, though, it's slim picking around these parts. Although Bethesda Bagels are pretty good...
I'm actually not a big fan of bagels. Did I say anything about them? JG
Re: #144 and Tucson Mexican food - Nope, not Casa Molina. The ones I'm thinking of were little more than drive-up stands, with a couple of table and chairs outside, but no parking lot really. Very small. And seemingly ubiquitous at one time. I REALLY wish I could remember the name. Its driving me nuts.
Arbys! We need more Arbys!
Sonic would be wonderful!
I saw a Hardee's last week...in Charlottesville.
Port of Subs is my first stop after alighting in Reno!
You may not know Port of Subs as there are only a few stores in Reno, southern Nevada (Las Vegas, Laughlin, etc), and northern California (Sacremento, Truckee, etc).
Oh holy hell do we ever need a Baker's Square/Village Inn around here. Best pie in the damn universe, short of catching the Amish store in Germantown when it's open.
At least Sonic appears to be moving closer and closer. First, there was only Williamsburg and that one in Delaware. Then, they opened in Fredericksburg, and they've started branching west from Philly on the turnpike (not close, per se, I'm hoping they start turning at I-83 and head down towards Baltimore). One can only hope they get closer.
For you Roy Rogers fans, there's one in Gaithersburg, and another in Germantown that are going strong.
And why can't I get some damn Arby's out here?! I can walk to at least 5 McDonald's from work, but I have to drive at least 30 mins. to get to a damn Arby's. WTF?
~EEE~
The only good thing about Arbys is the Jamocha Shake, which was my entire source of nutrition when I had my wisdom teeth taken out.
I can't believe no one has mentioned Krispy Kreme! As a Southern girl, DD doesn't hold a candle to fresh baked Krispy Kreme donuts... fresh being the key word. I think there's one in Alexandria, but that's it.
I also think we need more Sonic & WaHo!
Also:
Good deli - Chutzpah in Fairfax & Tysons Corner
Also, there's a Roy Rogers in Leesburg, and Friendly's in Fairfax & Sterling.
For good pizza (My hubby's from NY, so and he will even admit - begrudgingly - that it's good) - Manhattan Pizzeria in Leesburg, and Don Corleone's in Sterling. Both are pretty tasty.
Re:Re: #144 and Tucson Mexican food - Nope, not Casa Molina. The ones I'm thinking of were little more than drive-up stands, with a couple of table and chairs outside, but no parking lot really. Very small. And seemingly ubiquitous at one time. I REALLY wish I could remember the name. Its driving me nuts.
I believe the places you are thinking about are the "-bertos." They all have different names but sell pretty much the same excellent, cheap, dirty food - Filibertos, Alibertos, Gilibertos, etc. Filibertos is the most prevalent.
Eegee's is great - not many places sell subs and fries, let alone ranch fries.
#175 -
There's actually a Krispy Kreme in Dupont, right by the metro stop!
Oh, and someone mentioned Arby's way back. Food court at the bottom level of the Georgetown mall. Delicious and a little sketchy. But mostly delicious.
http://www.wildwingcafe.com/
This place has the best wings of ANYWHERE, EVER. and no, its not buffalo wild wings. its a totally different chain. the closest one is in Charlottesville. Oh, how I would love if one opened near here.
Apparently, the Navy Yard Five Guys is doing such good business they can afford to skimp on the hygene. Let's just say that today's lunch made monkeyrotica's butthole cry noisy tears.
Come on, Matchbox! You can't open on 8th soon enough.
Dreaming wildly, but I really like the fast food places that are available in Cairo. Felfela takeaway or Gad, with Egyptian falafel (Taameya), the ful, fatir, fries, koshari, and other options. Koshari Tahrir is also a great place. They serve just koshari (inexpensive dish of rice, lentils, macaroni, chickpeas, topped with a garlic/vinegar and tomato sauce, and caramelized onions), though places like Felfela and Gad also have koshari.
Egyptian falafel is not the same as Amsterdam Falafel and other places here. It's simpler, made from fava beans, with no toppings bar, though there are options for getting falafel with various sauces, with boiled egg, or my favorite (but unhealthy) was to get french fries as a topping (not as a side).
The thing about these places that is good is that they are so inexpensive. To have something like this in DC, it doesn't need to be those chains specifically, but something similar that could be a local place. The food would certainly cost more, though it would have to cost a bit less than places like Amsterdam Falafel or Quick Pita, yet needs to be high quality. Of course everything costs less in Egypt, but they keep costs especially low at places like this by being efficient, focusing on a small number of dishes, doing them well, and selling a lot of it.
Little Caesars Pizza. They are hard to find even inside KMarts in small towns any more. Love the crazy bread!
Mighty Taco.......