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A bowl of gumbo at Pearl Dive.
Photo: Pearl Dive

13 Soupy Gumbos to Devour Around D.C.

Dip into versions packed with okra, shrimp, chicken, and more

by Lani Furbank
1 comment / new
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A bowl of gumbo at Pearl Dive.
| Photo: Pearl Dive
by Lani Furbank
1 comment / new

Local diners have learned that they don’t need to wait for Mardi Gras to slurp down a bowl of gumbo. Local restaurants cater to fans of the iconic Southern specialty year-round these days.

The hearty dish historically associated with NOLA is cooked and served in homes and restaurants all over Louisiana, and beyond. Making a great gumbo is almost a rite of passage for many Southern chefs.

Here in the D.C. area, there are many takes on gumbo, from traditional to contemporary. Whether prepared with pork, poultry, or seafood, they all deliver a punch of flavor that brings the Big Easy to the DMV.

The featured restaurants are not ranked; they are arranged geographically from north to south.

Don’t see a favorite gumbo source on the list? Sound off in the comments or shoot us an email (dc@eater.com).

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Blue 44

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A few years ago, Blue 44’s gumbo inspired an anonymous patron to leave a $2,000 tip because he loved the food so much. That got the dish a promotion from a soup of the day to a regular entrée item. The chicken- and andouille sausage gumbo is served with a scoop of white rice and scallions.

5507 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015
(202) 362-2583
(202) 362-2583
Blue 44 restaurant in D.C.
Photo: Blue 44

Also featured in:

Highlands

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This neighborhood restaurant serves gumbo all day. It’s made with chicken, andouille sausage, tasso ham, shrimp, crawfish, and jasmine rice.

4706 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011
(202) 829-6200
(202) 829-6200
No meal at Highlands is complete without gumbo.
Photo by D M. / Yelp

Pearl Dive

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Restaurateur Jeff Black’s Southern-style oyster house does gumbo three ways; each option includes filé, okra, buttered rice, and is accompanied by garlic bread. The seafood gumbo features oysters, shrimp, and local crab; the shrimp gumbo is made with Texas Gulf shrimp; and the braised duck and oyster gumbo includes duck confit and oysters.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 319-1612
(202) 319-1612
A bowl of gumbo at Pearl Dive.
Photo: Pearl Dive

Also featured in:

Puddin' (Multiple locations)

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This Cajun-themed food truck has also set up shop inside Union Market. Its gumbo is a roux-less version featuring chicken, beef sausage, smoked shrimp, seasonal veggies, okra, and rice.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 725-1030
(202) 725-1030
Gumbo is just one of the comfort foods served by Puddin’.
Photo: Puddin’

Lil'B

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N’awlins native turned D.C. restaurateur David Guas serves a variety of gumbos at Bayou Bakery, his flagship restaurant in Arlington, Virginia. Lil’ B, the new Southern-themed eatery he’s planted inside the Darcy hotel, offers a classic interpretation featuring crawfish, shrimp, long grain rice, and green onions.

1515 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 521-7181
(202) 521-7181
Gumbo at Lil’ B.
Photo by Rey Lopez

Also featured in:

Blues Alley

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This iconic jazz and supper club has a seafood gumbo named after musician Jonathan Butler. It features a combination of shrimp, crab meat, red peppers, and onion in spicy tomato broth.

1073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-4141
(202) 337-4141
Famed Georgetown jazz club Blues Alley.
Photo: Blues Alley

Acadiana

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Restaurateur Jeff Tunks’ Louisiana-themed eatery weaves together fish, jumbo lump crab meat, shrimp, crawfish, oysters and Mahatma long grain rice into its seafood gumbo.

901 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 408-8848
(202) 408-8848
Seafood gumbo at Acadiana.
Photo: Acadiana

Also featured in:

Georgia Brown's

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Specializing in Southern cuisine, Georgia Brown’s doesn’t leave out gumbo. Its version includes shrimp, andouille sausage, crab, chicken, duck confit, okra, celery, onion, peppers, and Hoppin’ John.

950 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 393-4499
(202) 393-4499
Gumbo at Georgia Brown’s.
Photo: Georgia Brown’s

Also featured in:

Po Boy Jim

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Though Po Boy Jim specializes in sandwiches, gumbo is also in the mix. Its version includes andouille sausage, shrimp, chicken, and rice.

709 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 621-7071
(202) 621-7071
Gumbo at Po Boy Jim.
Photo by Brad P. / Yelp

Also featured in:

Old Ebbitt Grill

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This downtown standby’s gumbo features andouille sausage and fried oysters.

675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-4800
(202) 347-4800
One of the bars at Old Ebbitt Grill.
Photo by Rey Lopez for Eater DC

Also featured in:

Kith and Kin

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Gumbo is a family tradition for Top Chef alum Kwame Onwuachi. So at his new Afro-Caribbean restaurant at the Wharf, he serves a version that’s almost identical to the one he ate growing up. Kith and Kin’s gumbo features Maryland blue crab, rice, grilled quail, and andouille sausage in a shrimp broth.

801 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 878-8566
(202) 878-8566
Quail-shrimp gumbo at Kith and Kin.
Photo: Kith and Kin

Also featured in:

Chasin' Tails (Multiple locations)

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This homegrown chain built around peel-and-eat crawfish also has a seafood- and sausage gumbo to slurp alongside boiled seafood and fried sides.

5815 Trinity Pkwy, Centreville, VA 20120
(571) 351-1270
(571) 351-1270
Gumbo at Chasin’ Tails.
Photo: Chasin’ Tails

Okra's

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This Cajun-themed restaurant in Manassas, Virginia, has two gumbo selections. One is a classic version featuring chicken, andouille sausage, tasso ham, and white rice. The second is a seafood gumbo with tomato, okra, shrimp, oysters, crab meat, and andouille.

9110 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 330-2729
(703) 330-2729
Gumbo at Okra’s.
Photo by Jerry H. / Yelp

Also featured in:

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Blue 44

5507 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015

A few years ago, Blue 44’s gumbo inspired an anonymous patron to leave a $2,000 tip because he loved the food so much. That got the dish a promotion from a soup of the day to a regular entrée item. The chicken- and andouille sausage gumbo is served with a scoop of white rice and scallions.

5507 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015
(202) 362-2583
(202) 362-2583
Blue 44 restaurant in D.C.
Photo: Blue 44

Highlands

4706 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011

This neighborhood restaurant serves gumbo all day. It’s made with chicken, andouille sausage, tasso ham, shrimp, crawfish, and jasmine rice.

4706 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011
(202) 829-6200
(202) 829-6200
No meal at Highlands is complete without gumbo.
Photo by D M. / Yelp

Pearl Dive

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Restaurateur Jeff Black’s Southern-style oyster house does gumbo three ways; each option includes filé, okra, buttered rice, and is accompanied by garlic bread. The seafood gumbo features oysters, shrimp, and local crab; the shrimp gumbo is made with Texas Gulf shrimp; and the braised duck and oyster gumbo includes duck confit and oysters.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 319-1612
(202) 319-1612
A bowl of gumbo at Pearl Dive.
Photo: Pearl Dive

Puddin' (Multiple locations)

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

This Cajun-themed food truck has also set up shop inside Union Market. Its gumbo is a roux-less version featuring chicken, beef sausage, smoked shrimp, seasonal veggies, okra, and rice.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 725-1030
(202) 725-1030
Gumbo is just one of the comfort foods served by Puddin’.
Photo: Puddin’

Lil'B

1515 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005

N’awlins native turned D.C. restaurateur David Guas serves a variety of gumbos at Bayou Bakery, his flagship restaurant in Arlington, Virginia. Lil’ B, the new Southern-themed eatery he’s planted inside the Darcy hotel, offers a classic interpretation featuring crawfish, shrimp, long grain rice, and green onions.

1515 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 521-7181
(202) 521-7181
Gumbo at Lil’ B.
Photo by Rey Lopez

Blues Alley

1073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

This iconic jazz and supper club has a seafood gumbo named after musician Jonathan Butler. It features a combination of shrimp, crab meat, red peppers, and onion in spicy tomato broth.

1073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-4141
(202) 337-4141
Famed Georgetown jazz club Blues Alley.
Photo: Blues Alley

Acadiana

901 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Restaurateur Jeff Tunks’ Louisiana-themed eatery weaves together fish, jumbo lump crab meat, shrimp, crawfish, oysters and Mahatma long grain rice into its seafood gumbo.

901 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 408-8848
(202) 408-8848
Seafood gumbo at Acadiana.
Photo: Acadiana

Georgia Brown's

950 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Specializing in Southern cuisine, Georgia Brown’s doesn’t leave out gumbo. Its version includes shrimp, andouille sausage, crab, chicken, duck confit, okra, celery, onion, peppers, and Hoppin’ John.

950 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 393-4499
(202) 393-4499
Gumbo at Georgia Brown’s.
Photo: Georgia Brown’s

Po Boy Jim

709 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Though Po Boy Jim specializes in sandwiches, gumbo is also in the mix. Its version includes andouille sausage, shrimp, chicken, and rice.

709 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 621-7071
(202) 621-7071
Gumbo at Po Boy Jim.
Photo by Brad P. / Yelp

Old Ebbitt Grill

675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

This downtown standby’s gumbo features andouille sausage and fried oysters.

675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-4800
(202) 347-4800
One of the bars at Old Ebbitt Grill.
Photo by Rey Lopez for Eater DC

Kith and Kin

801 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Gumbo is a family tradition for Top Chef alum Kwame Onwuachi. So at his new Afro-Caribbean restaurant at the Wharf, he serves a version that’s almost identical to the one he ate growing up. Kith and Kin’s gumbo features Maryland blue crab, rice, grilled quail, and andouille sausage in a shrimp broth.

801 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 878-8566
(202) 878-8566
Quail-shrimp gumbo at Kith and Kin.
Photo: Kith and Kin

Chasin' Tails (Multiple locations)

5815 Trinity Pkwy, Centreville, VA 20120

This homegrown chain built around peel-and-eat crawfish also has a seafood- and sausage gumbo to slurp alongside boiled seafood and fried sides.

5815 Trinity Pkwy, Centreville, VA 20120
(571) 351-1270
(571) 351-1270
Gumbo at Chasin’ Tails.
Photo: Chasin’ Tails

Okra's

9110 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110

This Cajun-themed restaurant in Manassas, Virginia, has two gumbo selections. One is a classic version featuring chicken, andouille sausage, tasso ham, and white rice. The second is a seafood gumbo with tomato, okra, shrimp, oysters, crab meat, and andouille.

9110 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 330-2729
(703) 330-2729
Gumbo at Okra’s.
Photo by Jerry H. / Yelp

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