The cure for your winter blues? Nosh on a classic (or not so classic) comfort food in DC
When it’s cold outside, most of us crave a warm and comforting meal. And for good reason. Fried foods and creamy dishes don’t just make us feel toasty on the inside, they also pump us with feel good endorphins to help combat dark and chilly nights. From grilled cheese to pop tarts, that’s why we rounded up some of the most iconic versions of kid-friendly comfort food in DC. This list doesn’t read like your typical children’s menu, though. You’ll find elevated versions of kid favorites, like fried chicken on savory donuts, alongside cozy meals native to the District, like mumbo-smothered wings, that we think kids will love. So, get ready to tuck in to one of these comforting dishes on a cold day and beat the winter blues. Hungry yet?
Where to Find Comfort Food in DC Your Kids Will Totally Love
1. Cheesetique: Grilled Cheese
Cheesetique is a comfort food haven. You’ll find cheese-centered dishes like Mac ‘n Cheese and grilled cheese elevated to decadent levels with rich ingredients like crab in Mac dishes and pear and honey-topped grilled cheese. Other comfort classics include cheesesteak, lasagna, chicken pot pie, and more.
2411 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA
4024 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, VA
Online: cheesetique.com
2. Unconventional Diner: Blueberry Pancakes
Those seeking comfort foods often take refuge at diners, known for extensive menus featuring cozy dishes. Unconventional Diner’s creative twists on tried-and-true diner classics has earned it a nod in the Michelin’s Bib Gourmand guide. You’ll find bite-sized chicken pot pie poppers and sriracha-glazed meatloaf on the menu. But the real draw is the brunch items served daily until 4 p.m. The blueberry pancakes with a dollop of mascarpone is possibly the restaurant’s most stand-out dish.
1207 9th St. N.W.
Mt. Vernon Square
Online: unconventionaldiner.com
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3. Ben’s Chili Bowl: Half Smoke
It doesn’t get more iconic than a half smoke. Support this legendary landmark and you’ll be treating yourself to a piece of history on a bun. Sink your teeth into the half-smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl to savor perhaps the only food native to DC—a half-pork, half-beef sandwich topped with a heaping of chili sauce. A longtime local favorite, the U Street location has been around since the 1950s, and even counts celebrities and politicians as fans, including Barack Obama.
1213 U St. N.W.
U St./Cardoza
Online: benschilibowl.com
4. Capital City: Mumbo Sauce
Mumbo (or mambo) sauce is a DC invention that originated in Chinese carryout restaurants. It’s a sweet-and-sour-like sauce that makes almost any comfort food shine. Smother it on wings, fried fish, fried chicken, chicken and waffles, and more. The Capital City sauce company (available at a wide variety of local grocers) serves its mumbo at a National Stadium kiosk (section 231) so you can indulge in DC’s “official wing sauce” while catching a game. You can also find mumbo sauce at bodegas and carryout restaurants throughout the city—or take home a bottle of Capital City to use at home.
Nationals Park
1500 S. Capitol St. S.E.
Online: mlb.com
5. Horace & Dickie’s: Fried Fish
Legends are made of men like Mr. Dickie, who ran an iconic carryout on 12 Street for over 30 years. Fried fish is a classic DC dish, and Mr. Dickie’s was famous for being the best in town. Now friends and family of Dickie Shannon have taken over the trademark name to serve southern-style fried fish at four Dickie-inspired outposts: one in DC and three in Maryland. Let your kiddo graduate from fish sticks with whiting, salt fish, croaker, catfish, trout, and other local white fishes.
Locations in DC & MD
Online: horaceanddickies.com
Related: Grab & Go: 12 Restaurants with Budget-Friendly Family Platters
6. Ted’s Bulletin: Pop Tarts
Pop tarts are a sweet treat at the breakfast table, but homemade pop tarts elevate this flaky pastry from junk food to comfort food. Ted’s Bulletin, a local chain now eight restaurants strong, is most famous for their inventive pop tarts—known as Ted’s Tarts—that come in four flavors (strawberry, sugar & cinnamon, s’mores, and blueberry cheesecake). Be on the lookout for seasonal specialities, like Cherry Blossom, or limited edition flavors like peanut butter & bacon and maple pecan.
Multiple locations in DC, MD & VA
Online: tedsbulletin.com
7. Jumbo Slice: Pizza
If pizza is a family favorite, the infamous Jumbo Slice is worth at least one visit for the novelty of—as the name implies—jumbo slices. Before you gobble your pizza, you’ll want to snap (and post) one of these ginormous slices that run between two to four times the size of a human head. This Adams Morgan institution is a short 15 minute walk from the National Zoo, making it a great post-visit dinner.
2341 18th St. N.W.
Adams Morgan
Online: jumboslicepizzamart.com
8. Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken: Fried Chicken & Donuts
Chicken fingers, chicken nuggets, Dino-shaped chicken; no matter how you cut it, fried chicken tops most kids’ favorite food lists. And if you’re craving something salty and sweet, you can combine two comfort food favorites and have your chicken on a donut. Astro Doughnuts famous BYO (build your own) chicken sandwiches come on a choice of bun, including savory donuts and Old Bay donuts.
Good to Know: A new location in Arlington, Virginia (4013 Campbell Ave.) is opening soon.
1308 G St. N.W.
Washington, DC
7511 Leesburg Pike, #103
Falls Church, VA
Online: astrodoughnuts.com
Related: 10 Themed Restaurants Every DC Family Should Try
9. Rasika: Palak Chaat
We bet even kids who won’t eat green things will eat their spinach at this iconic Indian restaurant. Palak chaat—the most popular dish on the menu (and famous among foodies)—is a spinach dish that is coated in chickpea flower and fried until crispy. It’s a satisfyingly savory dish that is great for sharing (but you won’t want to).
633 D St. N.W.
Penn Quarter
190 New Hampshire Ave. N.W.
West End
Online: rasikarestaurant.com
10. Zenebech Injera: Injera
DC is home to the largest Ethiopian population in the United States. As a result, Ethiopian restaurants are an iconic part of the restaurant landscape here in the District. Ethiopian food is a communal experience with food that is made to be eaten with your hands, making it an instant hit with little kids. Food is served on round platters lined with a thick, spongey pancake-like bread called injera. If you’re ready to try Ethiopian food (or you’re already a fan), one of the best places in town—Zenebech—has been serving the DC community since 1993.
2420 18th St. N.W.
Adams Morgan
Online: michelin.com
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