Eater D.C.'s Top Posts of 2015

2015 was a year of Momofuku invasions, sushi burritos, Trump-related controversies and more. Readers loved classic restaurant coverage, anticipated openings guide and anything related to coffee or brunch.

Here are the top new feature and news posts on Eater D.C. this year, excluding the always-popular Eater 38 and Eater Heat Map. One surprise — coverage of D.C.'s cat cafe did not make the top posts cut.

1. 25 Classic Bars and Restaurants Every Washingtonian Must Try
Eater Classics Week, a new theme week this year, was a big hit. Readers particularly responded to this map of old-school restaurants and bars, from Old Ebbit to the Florida Ave. Grill.

[R. Lopez]

Florida Avenue Grill [Photo: R. Lopez]

2. Donald Trump's Statements Cause Backlash for D.C.'s Trump Hotel
Even a D.C.-based food website wasn't free of Trump headlines this year. This story stream chronicled all the news developments related to the upcoming hotel from the presidential candidate. Chefs pulled out, lawsuits ensued and more.

Photo by Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images

Trump [Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images]

3. Updating the Eater Brunch Map
Brunch is always a popular meal choice for D.C. diners and 2015 was no exception. This map was updated several times, with new offerings ranging from Maketto's dim sum brunch to new breakfast option Olivia's Diner.

Maketto [Photo: R. Lopez]

4. Washington D.C.'s 30 Most Iconic Dishes
Another Classics Week offering, this story focused on the dishes every Washingtonian needs to sample at one point, from the Ben's half-smoke to Ted Bulletin's take on Pop Tarts.

Half Smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl [Photo: R. Lopez]

5. Where to Eat Like Michelle Obama in D.C.
Diners loved following the every move of the First Lady, who's eaten at more than 40 restaurants around town over the past couple of years. Chez Billy Sud seemed to be a 2015 favorite.

The patio at Chez Billy Sud [Official]

6. 25 Essential D.C. Coffee Shops
Coffee is important. This map was a basic guide to the city's best offerings for coffee. Bonus: D.C.'s coffee scene has dramatically improved, even over the past year.

Slipstream [Photo: R. Lopez]

7. Shake Shack Adds A New Burger to Its Lineup
Any Shake Shack news is major news. Even though it isn't a D.C.-based company, local readers were still dying to hear about the Roadside Shack.

Roadside Shack [Photo: Official]

8. The Sushi Burrito is Here: Buredo Opens in D.C.
No one could have predicted the phenomenon that was the sushi burrito in D.C. The weird Japanese mash-up was an unlikely favorite of diners — and even some critics.

Buredo [Photo: Official]

9. Mapping Shaw's Upcoming Restaurant Invasion
Shaw was definitely the hot neighborhood of 2015, and looks poised to be a giant restaurant neighborhood in 2016 as well. Eater mapped upcoming projects several times throughout the year, most recently this summer.

Photo by Rey Lopez for Eater DC

Tim Ma [Photo: R. Lopez]

10. Where to Watch Mayweather vs. Pacquiao in D.C.
Sometimes Eater functions best when performing service journalism, and this year, sports fans really cared about where to watch this fight. Several bars around town showed the match (sometimes with some steep covers).

Rhodeside Grill [Photo: Official]

Five more favorites:

11. D.C.'s Most Anticipated Spring Openings of 2015
12. The 15 Most Anticipated D.C. Restaurant Openings of 2015
13. Momofuku Milk Bar is Aiming to Open By Summer
14. Momofuku Milk Bar is Open RIGHT NOW in D.C.
15. President Obama Celebrates His Birthday at Rose's Luxury

A few other monster maps: Here are 25 Essential Burgers in D.C...The D.C. Dm Sum Guide...Eater's 2015 Oyster Happy Hour Guide...Where to Eat at Nats Park.

Other openings you were dying to read about:...Maketto...Momofuku...Bonchon Navy Yard...China Chilcano.

Most-read restaurant closure story: Piratz Tavern.