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Photo: R. Lopez

Eater's Cold-Curing Chicken Soup Guide

by Missy Frederick
2 comments / new
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DGS
| Photo: R. Lopez
by Missy Frederick
2 comments / new

Ask readers about their favorite chicken soups and they tend to fall into two categories: the Jewish penicillin that is matzoh ball soup, and the lemony Greek classic avgolemono. D.C. actually has a variety of chicken soup standouts, whether it be classic renditions, ethnic spins like Pho Ga, or the aforementioned versions. Here are some of the standouts.

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Soup Up

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This soup stand within Union Market has several varieties of chicken soup among its rotating flavors. One reader favorite is the Jamaican-style Stewed Chicken & Roasted Fresh Vegetables Soup w/ Dumplings.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Greek Deli & Catering

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Lines can reach out the door for this downtown lunch spot, which specializes in avgolemono.

1120 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 296-2111
(202) 296-2111

Pho 75

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The Pho Ga soup at Pho 75 has a mix of white and dark meat chicken, along with rice noodles and the traditional Pho accompaniments.

1721 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 525-7355
(703) 525-7355

DGS Delicatessen

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DGS sells even more of its matzoh ball soup during cold and flu season.

1317 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 293-4400
(202) 293-4400

Woodside Delicatessen

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This Wheaton deli offers both a classic chicken noodle soup and a matzoh ball soup.

9329 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-7055
(301) 589-7055

Yia Yia's Kitchen

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Readers recommend the avgolomeno at this Beltsville restaurant.

Beltsville, MD
(301) 595-1855
(301) 595-1855

Bub and Pop's

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If the soup of the day is matzoh ball soup at Bub and Pop's, give it a try.

1815 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 457-1111
(202) 457-1111

Also featured in:

Super Chicken

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Super Chicken's chicken soup has its flaws - they use skin-on chicken that's still on the bone, so getting to the meat is a process - but there's something about that spicy broth.

422 S Washington St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 538-5366
(703) 538-5366

Celebrity Delly

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Celebrity Delly has a salty, satisfying version of matzoh ball soup spiked with noodles. The restaurant has a traditional chicken noodle as well.

7263A Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 573-9002
(703) 573-9002

Also featured in:

Chutzpah

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Chutzpah has a traditional chicken noodle soup, a Matzoh ball soup and a chicken soup made with kreplach, sort of a wonton/ravioli hybrid.

8100 Boone Blvd, Vienna, VA
(682) 488-9724
(682) 488-9724

Also featured in:

Cafe Carvy

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This unassuming sandwich shop gets props from some for its traditional chicken noodle soup with freshly carved meat.

1020 19th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20036
202) 223-1981
202) 223-1981

Ted's Bulletin

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Ted's boasts that it has the "world's best chicken noodle." That might be strong, but they do serve up a respectable version of the classic soup (multiple locations).

1818 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 265-8337
(202) 265-8337

Also featured in:

Toki Underground

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It might not taste like grandma's, but the Taipei curry chicken ramen soup at Toki Underground is still worth trying.

1234 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 388-3086
(202) 388-3086

Parkway Deli & Restaurant

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Parkway's a source for a classic matzoh ball soup, and they also offer a version without the matzoh balls.

8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 587-1427
(301) 587-1427

Also featured in:

Wagshal's on New Mexico

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Matzoh ball soup can be found at Wagshal's (multiple locations).

3201 New Mexico Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 363-5698
(202) 363-5698

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City Diner

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Homemade chicken soup is one of the standout menu items at this low-key diner.

5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041
(703) 671-4108
(703) 671-4108

More in Maps

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Soup Up

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

This soup stand within Union Market has several varieties of chicken soup among its rotating flavors. One reader favorite is the Jamaican-style Stewed Chicken & Roasted Fresh Vegetables Soup w/ Dumplings.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Greek Deli & Catering

1120 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Lines can reach out the door for this downtown lunch spot, which specializes in avgolemono.

1120 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 296-2111
(202) 296-2111

Pho 75

1721 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209

The Pho Ga soup at Pho 75 has a mix of white and dark meat chicken, along with rice noodles and the traditional Pho accompaniments.

1721 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 525-7355
(703) 525-7355

DGS Delicatessen

1317 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

DGS sells even more of its matzoh ball soup during cold and flu season.

1317 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 293-4400
(202) 293-4400

Woodside Delicatessen

9329 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

This Wheaton deli offers both a classic chicken noodle soup and a matzoh ball soup.

9329 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-7055
(301) 589-7055

Yia Yia's Kitchen

Beltsville, MD

Readers recommend the avgolomeno at this Beltsville restaurant.

Beltsville, MD
(301) 595-1855
(301) 595-1855

Bub and Pop's

1815 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

If the soup of the day is matzoh ball soup at Bub and Pop's, give it a try.

1815 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 457-1111
(202) 457-1111

Super Chicken

422 S Washington St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Super Chicken's chicken soup has its flaws - they use skin-on chicken that's still on the bone, so getting to the meat is a process - but there's something about that spicy broth.

422 S Washington St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 538-5366
(703) 538-5366

Celebrity Delly

7263A Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042

Celebrity Delly has a salty, satisfying version of matzoh ball soup spiked with noodles. The restaurant has a traditional chicken noodle as well.

7263A Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 573-9002
(703) 573-9002

Chutzpah

8100 Boone Blvd, Vienna, VA

Chutzpah has a traditional chicken noodle soup, a Matzoh ball soup and a chicken soup made with kreplach, sort of a wonton/ravioli hybrid.

8100 Boone Blvd, Vienna, VA
(682) 488-9724
(682) 488-9724

Cafe Carvy

1020 19th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20036

This unassuming sandwich shop gets props from some for its traditional chicken noodle soup with freshly carved meat.

1020 19th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20036
202) 223-1981
202) 223-1981

Ted's Bulletin

1818 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Ted's boasts that it has the "world's best chicken noodle." That might be strong, but they do serve up a respectable version of the classic soup (multiple locations).

1818 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 265-8337
(202) 265-8337

Toki Underground

1234 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

It might not taste like grandma's, but the Taipei curry chicken ramen soup at Toki Underground is still worth trying.

1234 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 388-3086
(202) 388-3086

Parkway Deli & Restaurant

8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Parkway's a source for a classic matzoh ball soup, and they also offer a version without the matzoh balls.

8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 587-1427
(301) 587-1427

Wagshal's on New Mexico

3201 New Mexico Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

Matzoh ball soup can be found at Wagshal's (multiple locations).

3201 New Mexico Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 363-5698
(202) 363-5698

Related Maps

City Diner

5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

Homemade chicken soup is one of the standout menu items at this low-key diner.

5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041
(703) 671-4108
(703) 671-4108

Related Maps