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A bowl of soup with a big matzoh ball and crackers on the side.
Matzoh ball soup from Celebrity Delly.
Celebrity Delly/Facebook

19 Sick Day Delivery Standbys Around D.C.

Chicken soup — and much more — for the soul

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Matzoh ball soup from Celebrity Delly.
| Celebrity Delly/Facebook

When you’re sick, certain foods just sound better (and many, frankly, sound appealing). For some, it’s refreshing juices; others rely on old standbys like chicken soup (there’s an option for this classic featured for Maryland, Virginia, and D.C.) or classic comfort food dishes. Spicy foods can help clear the sinuses — but with certain sicknesses, only bland foods are tolerable.

Here are some excellent options for sick day standbys in D.C. Note that the restaurant must provide delivery to be eligible for this map — a place like Parkway Deli might make the area’s best matzoh ball soup, but that doesn’t help if you can’t get out of bed to pick up carryout.

Have another sick day standby? Share with us in the comments.

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Chicken Noodle Soup at Woodside Deli

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Comfort comes in two versions at this Maryland deli — a bowl of classic chicken noodle soup or a heaping bowl of matzoh ball soup. Delivery is available through GrubHub, DoorDash, and UberEats.

A bowl of soup with a big matzoh ball and heaps of celery and carrot.
Matzoh ball soup from Woodside Deli.
Woodside Deli/Facebook

Kindi Chicken Rice

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Hainanese Chicken Rice is a delicate dish with calming properties; this Herndon restaurant is exclusively focused on the dish of poached chicken and rice slick with broth and chicken fat. Delivery available through the website.

A platter of poached chicken over rice with poached drumsticks in the background, and soup and dipping sauce on the side.
Chicken rice from Kindi.
Kindi Chicken Rice/Facebook

Pho (or Pho Ga) from Pho 14 (Multiple Locations)

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The D.C. area has no shortage of excellent options for pho. But Pho 14 has an advantage of being a location in D.C. proper that offers a fine bowl available for delivery. Delivery available through UberEats, Doordash (check for specific location).

Buttermilk Waffles from Open City

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Basic breakfast food can be just what’s needed when under the weather. Open City offers brunch all day, and offers a praline pecan waffle (as well as chicken and waffles for those who want something more substantial). Delivery through GrubHub, Toast, etc.

Spicy Noodle Dishes from Panda Gourmet

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For those looking for a spicy kick, Panda Gourmet is an obvious choice for dishes like dan dan noodles (and their handmade Shaanxi noodles with pork). Delivery available through the website.

Sopa De Res from El Tamarindo

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This Salvadoran restaurant has several comforting soups to choose from, featuring everything from seafood to chicken to beans. With its mixture of short rib, yucca, cabbage, and sweet plantain, the sopa de res should be relatively easy on the stomach. If you’re up for it, a pupusa on the side isn’t the worst idea. Delivery through Caviar, UberEats, Grubhub.

Chicken Soup from Prescription Chicken

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Prescription Chicken has created an entire business model around chicken soup delivery (you can also find them in several local stores). They even have a version especially catered towards relieving hangovers, which is of course a legitimate form of sickness.

Two quarts of soup with get-well-soon packaging.
Soup from Prescription Chicken.
Prescription Chicken

Juk from Anju

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Korea’s comforting porridge dish Juk gets enhanced at this modern Korean restaurant with roasted carrot, walnuts, lemon parsley oil, and charred green onion — preparations often change seasonally. Delivery through the website.

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio at Floriana

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Looking for something plain and carb-y? This basic pasta dish, prepared with just garlic and olive oil, is available via delivery through Floriana’s website.

Meatloaf at Unconventional Diner

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Meatloaf has never looked more stylish than at Unconventional Diner, where it’s served with sriracha glaze, mashed potato, and morel mushroom gravy. The fancy diner makes a mean chicken soup, too. Delivery through the restaurant’s website.

Juice and Smoothies from South Block (Multiple Locations)

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Amp up the vitamin consumption with a green juice or smoothie from this local juice company. They also serve acai bowls and other fruit-based fare. Delivery through UberEats, Postmates.

Wonton Soup from China Boy

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Find a rich, chickeny broth dotted with a generous amount of pork-filled wontons at this restaurant. Delivery available through GrubHub, UberEats.

Bullfrog Bagels

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Sometimes a plain bagel with butter is the only thing palatable. Get one from D.C. bagel experts Bullfrog through its website.

Several sesame bagels on top of each other.
Bagels from Bullfrog.
Bullfrog Bagels/Facebook

Congee from Full Kee

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Full Kee has many options for ordering soothing congee, whether it’s topped with sliced chicken, minced beef, or even duck blood. Delivery through Doordash, Caviar, GrubHub.

GCDC Grilled Cheese Bar

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Grilled cheese is a dish that can take someone sick back to childhood, and GCD specializes in the sandwich with many customizable versions. Delivery through the website.

A grilled cheese cut in half and stacked diagonally.
A grilled cheese from GCDC.
GCDC

Tantanmen from Bantam King

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Ramen is a go-to sick day food, and Bantam King’s tantanmen offers that extra kick of spiciness. It’s a vegan version that leans on Impossible meat for ground meat texture. Delivery available through the website.

A ramen with an egg floating in it and curry powder in the background.
Vegan tantanmen from Bantam King.
Bantam King/Facebook

Dal Makhani from Rasika

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Rasika may now be upstaged for the city’s fanciest dal now that Daru is putting burrata on theirs, but it’s still one of D.C.’s best versions of the warming lentil dish. Delivery available through the website.

Matzoh Ball Soup from Celebrity Delly

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Virginia can get delivery of a salty matzoh ball soup flecked with large pieces of carrot and chicken and plenty of noodles from this Falls Church deli. Throw in an appetizer order of chicken fingers for a bit of protein. Delivery is available through the website.

A bowl of soup with a big matzoh ball and crackers in the background.
Matzoh ball soup.
Celebrity Delly/Facebook

Soondubu Jjigae from Lighthouse Tofu

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Tofu stew is an excellent option from the tofu experts over at Lighthouse; light tofu gets enhanced with a spicy broth. Delivery through UberEats, Doordash.

Chicken Noodle Soup at Woodside Deli

Comfort comes in two versions at this Maryland deli — a bowl of classic chicken noodle soup or a heaping bowl of matzoh ball soup. Delivery is available through GrubHub, DoorDash, and UberEats.

A bowl of soup with a big matzoh ball and heaps of celery and carrot.
Matzoh ball soup from Woodside Deli.
Woodside Deli/Facebook

Kindi Chicken Rice

Hainanese Chicken Rice is a delicate dish with calming properties; this Herndon restaurant is exclusively focused on the dish of poached chicken and rice slick with broth and chicken fat. Delivery available through the website.

A platter of poached chicken over rice with poached drumsticks in the background, and soup and dipping sauce on the side.
Chicken rice from Kindi.
Kindi Chicken Rice/Facebook

Pho (or Pho Ga) from Pho 14 (Multiple Locations)

The D.C. area has no shortage of excellent options for pho. But Pho 14 has an advantage of being a location in D.C. proper that offers a fine bowl available for delivery. Delivery available through UberEats, Doordash (check for specific location).

Buttermilk Waffles from Open City

Basic breakfast food can be just what’s needed when under the weather. Open City offers brunch all day, and offers a praline pecan waffle (as well as chicken and waffles for those who want something more substantial). Delivery through GrubHub, Toast, etc.

Spicy Noodle Dishes from Panda Gourmet

For those looking for a spicy kick, Panda Gourmet is an obvious choice for dishes like dan dan noodles (and their handmade Shaanxi noodles with pork). Delivery available through the website.

Sopa De Res from El Tamarindo

This Salvadoran restaurant has several comforting soups to choose from, featuring everything from seafood to chicken to beans. With its mixture of short rib, yucca, cabbage, and sweet plantain, the sopa de res should be relatively easy on the stomach. If you’re up for it, a pupusa on the side isn’t the worst idea. Delivery through Caviar, UberEats, Grubhub.

Chicken Soup from Prescription Chicken

Prescription Chicken has created an entire business model around chicken soup delivery (you can also find them in several local stores). They even have a version especially catered towards relieving hangovers, which is of course a legitimate form of sickness.

Two quarts of soup with get-well-soon packaging.
Soup from Prescription Chicken.
Prescription Chicken

Juk from Anju

Korea’s comforting porridge dish Juk gets enhanced at this modern Korean restaurant with roasted carrot, walnuts, lemon parsley oil, and charred green onion — preparations often change seasonally. Delivery through the website.

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio at Floriana

Looking for something plain and carb-y? This basic pasta dish, prepared with just garlic and olive oil, is available via delivery through Floriana’s website.

Meatloaf at Unconventional Diner

Meatloaf has never looked more stylish than at Unconventional Diner, where it’s served with sriracha glaze, mashed potato, and morel mushroom gravy. The fancy diner makes a mean chicken soup, too. Delivery through the restaurant’s website.

Juice and Smoothies from South Block (Multiple Locations)

Amp up the vitamin consumption with a green juice or smoothie from this local juice company. They also serve acai bowls and other fruit-based fare. Delivery through UberEats, Postmates.

Wonton Soup from China Boy

Find a rich, chickeny broth dotted with a generous amount of pork-filled wontons at this restaurant. Delivery available through GrubHub, UberEats.

Bullfrog Bagels

Sometimes a plain bagel with butter is the only thing palatable. Get one from D.C. bagel experts Bullfrog through its website.

Several sesame bagels on top of each other.
Bagels from Bullfrog.
Bullfrog Bagels/Facebook

Congee from Full Kee

Full Kee has many options for ordering soothing congee, whether it’s topped with sliced chicken, minced beef, or even duck blood. Delivery through Doordash, Caviar, GrubHub.

GCDC Grilled Cheese Bar

Grilled cheese is a dish that can take someone sick back to childhood, and GCD specializes in the sandwich with many customizable versions. Delivery through the website.

A grilled cheese cut in half and stacked diagonally.
A grilled cheese from GCDC.
GCDC

Related Maps

Tantanmen from Bantam King

Ramen is a go-to sick day food, and Bantam King’s tantanmen offers that extra kick of spiciness. It’s a vegan version that leans on Impossible meat for ground meat texture. Delivery available through the website.

A ramen with an egg floating in it and curry powder in the background.
Vegan tantanmen from Bantam King.
Bantam King/Facebook

Dal Makhani from Rasika

Rasika may now be upstaged for the city’s fanciest dal now that Daru is putting burrata on theirs, but it’s still one of D.C.’s best versions of the warming lentil dish. Delivery available through the website.

Matzoh Ball Soup from Celebrity Delly

Virginia can get delivery of a salty matzoh ball soup flecked with large pieces of carrot and chicken and plenty of noodles from this Falls Church deli. Throw in an appetizer order of chicken fingers for a bit of protein. Delivery is available through the website.

A bowl of soup with a big matzoh ball and crackers in the background.
Matzoh ball soup.
Celebrity Delly/Facebook

Soondubu Jjigae from Lighthouse Tofu

Tofu stew is an excellent option from the tofu experts over at Lighthouse; light tofu gets enhanced with a spicy broth. Delivery through UberEats, Doordash.

Related Maps