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Tastee Diner in Bethesda, Maryland — An order being jotted down at Tastee Diner in Bethesda.

These D.C. Diners Are (Really, Truly) Actual Diners

16 essential standbys that stick to the basics

by Tierney Plumb and Tim Ebner Updated Jun 13, 2023, 10:43am EDT

2 comments / new

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An order being jotted down at Tastee Diner in Bethesda.

| Photo by Jason Andrew for The Washington Post via Getty Images

by Tierney Plumb and Tim Ebner Updated Jun 13, 2023, 10:43am EDT

2 comments / new

The term "diner" gets thrown around a lot in D.C. It's a problem because real diners adhere to somewhat strict standards. First, the food should be gloriously greasy and listed across many menu pages. Then, there's the inexpensive price point. Diners are there for the working man, the retiree, the off-duty cop, and the 20-something who can barely afford rent. States like New Jersey and Pennsylvania have figured this out. Their diners are located on busy highways or in city centers and run on a 24-hour cycle.

These days, D.C.’s idea of a modern-day diner includes “flexitarian” menus (Silver Diner), boozy milkshakes and fancy Pop-Tarts (Ted’s Bulletin), trendy small plates (The Diner), and polished, sit-down options like Gatsby and Unconventional Diner.

This map, however, focuses on the tried-and-true, small-scale classics that are fast, cheap, and filling. And now, in honor of Eater’s Diner Week, here are 16 old-school staples that shouldn’t be forgotten. For D.C.’s essential breakfast spots, go here.

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Nick's Diner

Nick’s Diner is family-owned and operated since it started serving breakfast over 40 years ago. It has a historic status in Wheaton, and its famous chili, pancakes, and hot pastrami keeps customers coming back for breakfast and lunch daily. Order ahead online.

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11199 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Nick’s Diner starts the day with a “Good Morning Breakfast” section.

College Park Diner

This late-night favorite caters to college students (and their budgets) at nearby University of Maryland. The famous weekday special — two eggs, two pancakes, and two strips of bacon — is only $6.95. Open for dine-in and takeout daily from 6 a.m. to midnight (and 2 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday).

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9206 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740

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A post shared by College Park Diner (@collegeparkdiner)

Tastee Diner

Established in 1935, the retro-styled omelette and hotcakes stalwart sadly closed its decades-old downtown Silver Spring location this spring to make way for housing. The treasured local chain maintains two jukebox-playing outposts in Bethesda and Laurel, open all day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

7731 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lisa Wilkes Badstibner (@tastee_diner)

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Tony's Place

Meaty breakfast platters, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches can all be found at this D.C. breakfast spot, with two other locations on H Street and in Anacostia. The generous breakfast platter offers two eggs, toast, home fries or grits, and a choice of bacon, ham, sausage, turkey bacon, turkey links, or scrapple, all for under $5.

622 Kennedy St NW, Washington, DC 20011

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Also featured in:

Steak 'n Egg

Around since 1993, this Tenleytown institution keeps diners full with piled-high plates of country-fried steak and gravy, potato hash formed into perfect patties, and head-turners like funnel cake fries. Plus, a robot helps wait tables in this pristine, 1950s-inspired diner that recently expanded on-site. Open for walk-up, pick-up, or delivery until as late as 4 a.m. (on Fridays and Saturdays).

Open in Google Maps

4700 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by STEAK N EGG DINER (@steakneggdiner)

Murry & Paul's Restaurant

Serving since 1964, big portions and affordable prices shine at Brookland’s unassuming diner lined with counter stools. Breakfast plates and burgers keep longstanding regulars satisfied.

3513 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

Also featured in:

The Best Breakfast Spots Around D.C.

Florida Avenue Grill

The Florida Avenue Grill calls itself the "oldest soul food restaurant in the world." It’s also a greasy spoon where it's worth saddling up to the bar. It’s the kind of place where it's customary to order a half-smoke as a side.

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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Deli City

Don’t be fooled by the name. Kosher-style Deli City is actually a diner-esque restaurant with some of the best scrapple in D.C. Swing by the old-fashioned neighborhood hangout for dine-in or takeout. Don’t sleep on its three-decker corned beef sandwiches.

2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018

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Metro 29 Diner

This Arlington diner has a distinctly New York vibe, but it definitely passes on pretentiousness. All-day breakfast served until 10 p.m. showcases thick challah French toast and “super egg” sandwiches. Both celebrity chef Guy Fieri and President Joe Biden have stopped by the no-frills spot that opened in 1995. Opening time is 6 a.m. for early risers.

4711 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207

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A post shared by Metro 29 Diner (@_metro29diner)

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Lincoln's Waffle Shop

Not just for tourists, this Penn Quarter fixture since 1990 keeps everyone well-fed across from Ford’s Theater, starting at 6 a.m. Naturally, waffles are on the menu. There’s also country-fried steak with a ginger-spiced brown gravy, home fries, vegetarian omelets, and frequent coffee refills.

504 10th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

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Also featured in:

Ollie's Trolley

Attached to D.C.’s third-oldest hotel, Hotel Harrington, the unchanged Ollie burgers and peppery shoestring fries are this treasured diner’s main attractions since 1989.

425 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Ollie’s Trolley sits at a prominent downtown corner.

Jimmy T's Place

A favorite for Capitol Hill residents, Jimmy T’s is a tightly packed diner that's known primarily for it’s reliable service and low prices on omelets and combo deals.

501 E Capitol St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Jimmy T’s is nestled in a historic row home.

Also featured in:

Pete's Diner

Politicians can’t agree on much, but they do agree Pete’s is the place for breakfast. The diner is a come-as-you-are favorite for Hill staffers. It also makes a mean bulgogi.

212 2nd St SE, Washington, D.C. 20543

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Bob & Edith's Diner (multiple locations)

After 50 years of service, Virginians are still staunchly loyal to Bob & Edith’s. Highlights include the steak-and-eggs special or homemade biscuits with sausage gravy. Two other Arlington locales join a pair in Alexandria and one more in Springfield.

2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

Visit Website

Bob & Edith’s locations embrace a retro-diner look.

Also featured in:

City Diner

The Falls Church landmark kicks off breakfast daily at 8 a.m. The portions are huge, and the menu skews Mediterranean for lunch and early-bird dinner service until 7 p.m.

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5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

Visit Website

City Diner is still going strong in Falls Church.

Barnside Diner

Look for the red roof off the Little River Turnpike for diner staples at Barnside. Specialties include eggs Benedict with corned beef hash and chicken tenders with fries. Its 24-hour days are long gone, however (now open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily).

Open in Google Maps

6306 Little River Tpke, Alexandria, VA 22312

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Nick's Diner

11199 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Nick’s Diner is family-owned and operated since it started serving breakfast over 40 years ago. It has a historic status in Wheaton, and its famous chili, pancakes, and hot pastrami keeps customers coming back for breakfast and lunch daily. Order ahead online.

Open in Google Maps

11199 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Nick’s Diner starts the day with a “Good Morning Breakfast” section.

College Park Diner

9206 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740

This late-night favorite caters to college students (and their budgets) at nearby University of Maryland. The famous weekday special — two eggs, two pancakes, and two strips of bacon — is only $6.95. Open for dine-in and takeout daily from 6 a.m. to midnight (and 2 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday).

Open in Google Maps

9206 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by College Park Diner (@collegeparkdiner)

Tastee Diner

7731 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

Established in 1935, the retro-styled omelette and hotcakes stalwart sadly closed its decades-old downtown Silver Spring location this spring to make way for housing. The treasured local chain maintains two jukebox-playing outposts in Bethesda and Laurel, open all day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

7731 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lisa Wilkes Badstibner (@tastee_diner)

Tony's Place

622 Kennedy St NW, Washington, DC 20011

Meaty breakfast platters, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches can all be found at this D.C. breakfast spot, with two other locations on H Street and in Anacostia. The generous breakfast platter offers two eggs, toast, home fries or grits, and a choice of bacon, ham, sausage, turkey bacon, turkey links, or scrapple, all for under $5.

622 Kennedy St NW, Washington, DC 20011

Visit Website

Steak 'n Egg

4700 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016

Around since 1993, this Tenleytown institution keeps diners full with piled-high plates of country-fried steak and gravy, potato hash formed into perfect patties, and head-turners like funnel cake fries. Plus, a robot helps wait tables in this pristine, 1950s-inspired diner that recently expanded on-site. Open for walk-up, pick-up, or delivery until as late as 4 a.m. (on Fridays and Saturdays).

Open in Google Maps

4700 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by STEAK N EGG DINER (@steakneggdiner)

Murry & Paul's Restaurant

3513 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

Serving since 1964, big portions and affordable prices shine at Brookland’s unassuming diner lined with counter stools. Breakfast plates and burgers keep longstanding regulars satisfied.

3513 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

Florida Avenue Grill

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The Florida Avenue Grill calls itself the "oldest soul food restaurant in the world." It’s also a greasy spoon where it's worth saddling up to the bar. It’s the kind of place where it's customary to order a half-smoke as a side.

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Deli City

2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018

Don’t be fooled by the name. Kosher-style Deli City is actually a diner-esque restaurant with some of the best scrapple in D.C. Swing by the old-fashioned neighborhood hangout for dine-in or takeout. Don’t sleep on its three-decker corned beef sandwiches.

2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018

Metro 29 Diner

4711 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207

This Arlington diner has a distinctly New York vibe, but it definitely passes on pretentiousness. All-day breakfast served until 10 p.m. showcases thick challah French toast and “super egg” sandwiches. Both celebrity chef Guy Fieri and President Joe Biden have stopped by the no-frills spot that opened in 1995. Opening time is 6 a.m. for early risers.

4711 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Metro 29 Diner (@_metro29diner)

Lincoln's Waffle Shop

504 10th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Not just for tourists, this Penn Quarter fixture since 1990 keeps everyone well-fed across from Ford’s Theater, starting at 6 a.m. Naturally, waffles are on the menu. There’s also country-fried steak with a ginger-spiced brown gravy, home fries, vegetarian omelets, and frequent coffee refills.

504 10th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

Ollie's Trolley

425 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Attached to D.C.’s third-oldest hotel, Hotel Harrington, the unchanged Ollie burgers and peppery shoestring fries are this treasured diner’s main attractions since 1989.

425 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Ollie’s Trolley sits at a prominent downtown corner.

Jimmy T's Place

501 E Capitol St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

A favorite for Capitol Hill residents, Jimmy T’s is a tightly packed diner that's known primarily for it’s reliable service and low prices on omelets and combo deals.

501 E Capitol St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Jimmy T’s is nestled in a historic row home.

Pete's Diner

212 2nd St SE, Washington, D.C. 20543

Politicians can’t agree on much, but they do agree Pete’s is the place for breakfast. The diner is a come-as-you-are favorite for Hill staffers. It also makes a mean bulgogi.

212 2nd St SE, Washington, D.C. 20543

Bob & Edith's Diner (multiple locations)

2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

After 50 years of service, Virginians are still staunchly loyal to Bob & Edith’s. Highlights include the steak-and-eggs special or homemade biscuits with sausage gravy. Two other Arlington locales join a pair in Alexandria and one more in Springfield.

2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

Visit Website

Bob & Edith’s locations embrace a retro-diner look.

City Diner

5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

The Falls Church landmark kicks off breakfast daily at 8 a.m. The portions are huge, and the menu skews Mediterranean for lunch and early-bird dinner service until 7 p.m.

Open in Google Maps

5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

Visit Website

City Diner is still going strong in Falls Church.

Related Maps

Barnside Diner

6306 Little River Tpke, Alexandria, VA 22312

Look for the red roof off the Little River Turnpike for diner staples at Barnside. Specialties include eggs Benedict with corned beef hash and chicken tenders with fries. Its 24-hour days are long gone, however (now open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily).

Open in Google Maps

6306 Little River Tpke, Alexandria, VA 22312

Related Maps