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Adobo chicken is on the menu at Lumpia Pansit Atbp.
Ray P./Yelp

12 Flavorful Adobo Dishes to Try Right Now

Where to find Filipino-style steak, pork, and even squid

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Adobo chicken is on the menu at Lumpia Pansit Atbp.
| Ray P./Yelp

One of the core dishes of the Filipino cuisine currently spreading across D.C., adobo is a stew typically featuring assorted cuts of meat (and sometimes seafood) marinated in a base of vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. That simple template fuels endless subtle variations.

Area restaurants offer a range of adobo dishes, from iterations that evoke the reliable comfort of Filipino homes to inventive variations designed to thrust Pinoy cooking forward.

Here are a dozen adobo meals to seek out around D.C.

Note: The featured restaurants are not ranked. The map is arranged geographically from north to south.

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Kuya Ja’s Lechon Belly

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A pop-up that shares space with the Filipino bakery Gwenie’s Desserts, Kuya Ja’s makes its namesake dish with pickled papaya, as well as an adobo chicken bowl. The restaurant plans to open a dedicated space in Rockville (5268-H Nicholson Lane) this spring.

An adobo pork belly bowl with yellow squash at Kuya Ja.
Kuya Ja/Facebook

Manila Mart

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Open since 1996, this modest strip mall spot serves adobo chicken and pork as well as other Filipino favorites on its hot bar.

Adobo pork is one of the traditional Filipino dishes served at Manila Mart.
Sharon K./Yelp

Lumpia Pansit Atbp

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This Wheaton restaurant started in 2000 as a catering service that worked food stalls at Filipino-Asian festivals. It serves adobo chicken thighs as part of its menu.

Adobo chicken is one of the traditional Filipino dishes served at Lumpia Pansit Atbp.
Ray P./Yelp

Purple Patch

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Purple Patch owner Patrice Cleary recently offered a spicy adobo chicken dish as a special, and her vegan-friendly adobo eggplant is one of the menu’s personal twists on the dish. The restaurant’s brunch menu includes an adobo chicken hash.

Adobo chicken with rice at Purple Patch.
Tracie U./Yelp

Bad Saint

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While its menu changes daily, the critically acclaimed, Bib Gourmand restaurant that continues to draw lines out the door has served a number of adobo offerings including adobong dilaw, flavored with turmeric; a tender adobo squid dish with squid ink; and a chicken and pork belly adobo pairing.

Adobo chicken and pork belly at Bad Saint.
Cecilia J./Yelp

Masa 14

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Among this popular 14th Street restaurant’s wok dishes is a drunken adobo pork. It also serves adobo marinated steak.

Adobo steak at Masa 14.
Laura K./Yelp

Philippine Oriental Market and Deli

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This Arlington market and neighborhood carryout serves Filipino favorites including adobo chicken and beef on its hot bar.

Adobo beef and chicken are served regularly at neighborhood carryout Phillipine Oriental Market.
Hannah H./Yelp

Pinoy Kitchens

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On weekends, Pinoy Kitchens sets up shop at Eastern Market and supplies passersby with chicken adobo — and, on occasion, adobo sliders.

Roaming vendor Pinoy Kitchens serves adobo chicken as part of its lineup of Filipino cuisine.
Marlon M./Yelp

Bistro 1521

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The owners of now-defunct Bistro 7107 moved to Ballston in 2017 to open the roomier Bistro 1521. In addition to serving Filipino standards including pata, sisig, and mechada, the updated eatery makes adobo chicken.

Assorted dishes at Bistro 1521.
Jennifer K./Yelp

Fairfax Inn

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In addition to serving standard American fare, this Falls Church diner serves Filipino dishes including adobo chicken and pork.

An adobo dish at Fairfax Inn.
Allison S./Yelp

Luming's

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This Fort Washington eatery serves adobo pork and chicken dishes, as well as barbecue pork.

Barbecue pork skewers and adobo chicken at Luming’s.
Naomi C./Yelp

The Corner Q

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This Puerto Rican-Filipino mash-up serves adobo chicken, as well as doborito sliders — featuring marinated chicken on plantain buns with garlic-mayo sauce.

Adobo chicken at the Corner Q.
Beverly Z./Yelp

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Kuya Ja’s Lechon Belly

A pop-up that shares space with the Filipino bakery Gwenie’s Desserts, Kuya Ja’s makes its namesake dish with pickled papaya, as well as an adobo chicken bowl. The restaurant plans to open a dedicated space in Rockville (5268-H Nicholson Lane) this spring.

An adobo pork belly bowl with yellow squash at Kuya Ja.
Kuya Ja/Facebook

Manila Mart

Open since 1996, this modest strip mall spot serves adobo chicken and pork as well as other Filipino favorites on its hot bar.

Adobo pork is one of the traditional Filipino dishes served at Manila Mart.
Sharon K./Yelp

Lumpia Pansit Atbp

This Wheaton restaurant started in 2000 as a catering service that worked food stalls at Filipino-Asian festivals. It serves adobo chicken thighs as part of its menu.

Adobo chicken is one of the traditional Filipino dishes served at Lumpia Pansit Atbp.
Ray P./Yelp

Purple Patch

Purple Patch owner Patrice Cleary recently offered a spicy adobo chicken dish as a special, and her vegan-friendly adobo eggplant is one of the menu’s personal twists on the dish. The restaurant’s brunch menu includes an adobo chicken hash.

Adobo chicken with rice at Purple Patch.
Tracie U./Yelp

Bad Saint

While its menu changes daily, the critically acclaimed, Bib Gourmand restaurant that continues to draw lines out the door has served a number of adobo offerings including adobong dilaw, flavored with turmeric; a tender adobo squid dish with squid ink; and a chicken and pork belly adobo pairing.

Adobo chicken and pork belly at Bad Saint.
Cecilia J./Yelp

Masa 14

Among this popular 14th Street restaurant’s wok dishes is a drunken adobo pork. It also serves adobo marinated steak.

Adobo steak at Masa 14.
Laura K./Yelp

Philippine Oriental Market and Deli

This Arlington market and neighborhood carryout serves Filipino favorites including adobo chicken and beef on its hot bar.

Adobo beef and chicken are served regularly at neighborhood carryout Phillipine Oriental Market.
Hannah H./Yelp

Pinoy Kitchens

On weekends, Pinoy Kitchens sets up shop at Eastern Market and supplies passersby with chicken adobo — and, on occasion, adobo sliders.

Roaming vendor Pinoy Kitchens serves adobo chicken as part of its lineup of Filipino cuisine.
Marlon M./Yelp

Bistro 1521

The owners of now-defunct Bistro 7107 moved to Ballston in 2017 to open the roomier Bistro 1521. In addition to serving Filipino standards including pata, sisig, and mechada, the updated eatery makes adobo chicken.

Assorted dishes at Bistro 1521.
Jennifer K./Yelp

Fairfax Inn

In addition to serving standard American fare, this Falls Church diner serves Filipino dishes including adobo chicken and pork.

An adobo dish at Fairfax Inn.
Allison S./Yelp

Luming's

This Fort Washington eatery serves adobo pork and chicken dishes, as well as barbecue pork.

Barbecue pork skewers and adobo chicken at Luming’s.
Naomi C./Yelp

The Corner Q

This Puerto Rican-Filipino mash-up serves adobo chicken, as well as doborito sliders — featuring marinated chicken on plantain buns with garlic-mayo sauce.

Adobo chicken at the Corner Q.
Beverly Z./Yelp

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