This historic diner has expanded to three locations. Though it’s moved around some, the original dining car still serving Bethesda has been a part of the community for over 80 years. The menu runs the gamut, from breakfast standards (pancakes with eggs, creamed chip beef, fried chicken and waffles) to blue plate specials (crab cake platters, roast beef with vegetables, 16-ounce T-bone steak). The kitchen also accommodates dietary restrictions, substituting egg whites in certain breakfast dishes and providing gluten-free selections on request.

A treasured part of Tenleytown, this old school greasy spoon features a tiny counter typically crowded with tempting dishes. Everyone from famished American University students to hospitality professionals who’ve just punched out for the night pack into the one-room restaurant for a taste of egg-filled breakfast sandwiches, fruit-studded pancakes, messy grill burgers, and more. A fan favorite: powdered sugar-dusted funnel cake “fries” that scream county fair.

This Adams Morgan’s mainstay stays busy at all hours by giving customers what they want whenever is convenient. There’s specialty drinks (bloody mary, Irish coffee), gourmet burgers, vegetarian fare (black bean-filled tacos, mushroom and onion-packed faux Reuben sandwiches), assorted egg dishes, and crowd pleasers such as chili-cheese tater tots.

This regional chain planted its first store in D.C. last fall. The downtown location features a full range of gourmet coffee, display cases full of assorted baked goods, and, of course, Wawa’s made-to-order hoagies and breakfast sandwiches. The company plans to open dozens of stores in the next few years, including another 24-hour shop already in the works in Columbia Heights.

The flagship Amphora’s voluminous menu covers everything from traditional Mediterranean fare  (spanakopita, hummus, pastitsio) and American comfort foods (grilled cheese, roast turkey with mashed potatoes, liver with sauteed onions) to calorie-conscious options (baked ratatouille, meat-free moussaka, vegetarian burgers). Still hungry? The restaurant is renowned for its mousse cakes, seasonal pies, and pastries.

This Afghan eatery keeps Crystal City diners in all the grilled meats, curried stews, and fresh baked naan they can eat. The quarter century-old neighborhood restaurant features assorted kebabs (chicken, lamb chops, seasoned ground beef) as well as specialty dishes (curry chicken, spicy trotters, spinach-potato stews).

Although it serves a variety of Korean dishes, this local chain is perhaps best known for its nourishing soups. Featured offerings include oxtail, chicken, tofu, and seafood-laden brews. But the go-to dish has to be a hangover helper made with pork ribs, vegetables, cloudy broth, and a plenty of spices.

A late-night dining stronghold for decades, Yechon draws in diners from far beyond its home in Annandale, Virginia. The menu focuses on Korean and Japanese dishes, offering selections ranging from a la carte sushi rolls and sashimi to marinated beef short ribs and kimchi-spiked casseroles.