The summer of 2019 was all about the Popeyes effect. When the fried chicken chain debuted its chicken sandwich, the nation was consumed in poultry panic. From that time on, some D.C. restaurants added crispy poultry options to try to ride the wave, while others, like affordable standout Roaming Rooster, benefited from added attention on their preexisting specialty. In 2020, new additions to this list include Open Crumb, the Anacostia carryout that holds down the Southeast D.C. neighborhood with $5 fried chicken sandwiches on homemade buns with tender thigh meat; Melange, the burger joint that serves a crispy chicken sandwich coated in Ethiopian doro wat spices; and Present Company Public House, the Mt. Vernon Triangle area bar that puts a maple-whiskey sauce on its Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Chef Rock Harper’s Queen Mother’s debuted in 2020, too, but is in between homes after leaving the Ghostline chef’s collective in Glover Park.
If there’s a favorite local fried chicken sandwich that you think should have made the cut, send us a tip.
A number of D.C. area restaurants have resumed dine-in service. The level of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still safety concerns. The Washington Post is tracking coronavirus cases and deaths in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. More information can be found at coronavirus.dc.gov. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.
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