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Here Are 25 of the D.C. Area's Iconic Greasy Spoons

by Missy Frederick@bylinemjf Jul 15, 2013, 10:03am EDT

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by Missy Frederick@bylinemjf Jul 15, 2013, 10:03am EDT

8 comments / new

Photo: Facebook

D.C. may not have the kind of diner culture that one finds in New Jersey or on Long Island. But look deeper, and the city and its surrounding areas still have plenty of greasy spoon standouts, some of which have stood the test of time for years. Here's a roundup of 25 important ones to note, whether for their historical status, late night hours, no-frills food or interesting quirks. Have another favorite greasy spoon? Share it in the comments.

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Metro 29 Diner

Metro 29, located in Arlington, is one of D.C.'s few New York-style diners. It opened in 1995 and has an on-site bakery.
What to order: Corned beef hash, pancakes, Spanish omelet.

4711 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207

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Also featured in:

The Diner

The Diner is open 24/7 and is from the same family of restaurants as Tryst, The Coupe and Open City. It's particularly packed during weekend brunch.
What to order: eggs bendict, sausage stuffed pancakes, meatloaf, Croque and Dagger

2453 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

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Also featured in:

Florida Avenue Grill

The Florida Ave. grill markets itself as the "oldest soul food restaurant in the world." It's been around since 1944, and owner Lacey C. Wilson, Jr. is a D.C. fixture.
What to order: Grits, virginia ham, scrapple.

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

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Also featured in:

Silver Diner

Silver Diner has grown from a Rockville stand-alone restaurant to a chain of successful diners reaching as far as New Jersey. Several years ago, the owners switched the menu to have more of a healthy and farm-focused bent, and the results have increased sales dramatically (while improving the food in the process).
What to order: Farm fresh eggs and salads, fruit shakes, anything with bison.

Open in Google Maps

12276 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

Visit Website

Bob & Edith's Diner

Bob and Edith's has been around since the late 60s, and has been a destination for late night, heart-attack-on-a-plate food since.
What to order: 2-2-2 special, homemade biscuits, steak and eggs.

2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

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Also featured in:

Ben's Chili Bowl

It doesn't get more iconic — or greasy — than Ben's Chili Bowl. The historic destination has been a fixture on U street since 1958, and has seen D.C. evolve and change over the decades.
What to order: Half smoke with chili

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1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

La Caraquena

More of a dive than a diner (and yes, it has been featured on Guy Fieri's show), La Caraquena is an unassuming restaurant located within a motel in Falls Church. It only has a few seats, but it's a destination for its Latin American food.
What to order: Arepas such as J.P.'s favorite, sopa de frijoles.

Open in Google Maps

300 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Visit Website

Osman & Joe's Steak 'n Egg Kitchen

The unassuming Steak 'n' Egg kitchen serves up homestyle fare late at night.
What to order: Steak and eggs with mushrooms, milkshakes, scrapple

4700 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016

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Also featured in:

Tastee Diner

There are three locations of Tastee Diner throughout Maryland, and they all serve breakfast 24/7 in a classic diner car atmosphere.
What to order: Pie, daily specials like chicken and dumplings.

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7731 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

Visit Website

Mark's Kitchen

Mark's Kitchen has been a fixture of Takoma Park since 1990. It's been known for its vegetarian and vegan options since the beginning.
What to order: Vegetarian fare, Korean dishes, blueberry pancakes

7006 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

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Also featured in:

Bentley's

This restaurant, adjacent to a hotel along Route 50, feels like something out of another time and place. It used to be a Three Chef's Pancake House.
What to order: Generic breakfast fare, pancakes

Open in Google Maps

6654 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042

Visit Website

Jimmy T's Place

Jimmy T's is about as divey as it gets - a no-frills, tiny neighborhood favorite that's actually cheap.
What to order: good coffee, breakfast combos, eggs with a half smoke.

501 E Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003

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Also featured in:

Oohh’s & Aahh’s

This U Street staple is known for its soul food dishes.
What to order: mac and cheese, fried chicken.

Open in Google Maps

1005 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Amphora Restaurant

Amphora is been a Vienna option for late night fare and Greek-inspired dishes since the 1970s. It also has an on-site bakery.
What to order: pastries, peanut butter pancakes.

Open in Google Maps

377 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180

Visit Website

Duplex Diner

This diner, a particular favorite of the gay community, just got a design makeover.
What to order: Tater tots, meatloaf.

Open in Google Maps

2004 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Nick's Diner

Open for breakfast and lunch only, this Greek-style is run by an entire family, and diners can catch up with owner Nick near the grill.
What to order: Greek omelet, gyros, ham off-the-bone sandwiches, home fries

Open in Google Maps

11199 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902

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Ollie's Trolley

The D.C. location of Ollie's Trolley is a remnant of what used to be a robust national chain. The restaurant is a particular favorite among tourists.
What to order: Cheeseburgers, fries.

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425 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

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Lincoln's Waffle Shop

Lincoln's Waffle Shop has been a breakfast option across from Ford's Theater for more than 20 years.
What to order: Waffles, club sandwich.

504 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

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Also featured in:

American City Diner

With blue plate specials, movie nights and a long history, American City Diner has a special place in the hearts of D.C. and Maryland residents.
What to order: Milkshakes, pizza

5532 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015

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Also featured in:

Barnside Diner

This divey destination is open 24 hours and known for its quick service.
What to order: Corned beef hash

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6308 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312-1601

C.F. Folks

C.F. Folks just received a James Beard award for its iconic status in the D.C. lunch scene. The restaurant is beloved for its daily specials.
What to order: Deli sandwiches, specials, fried chicken

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1225 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20036

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Plato's Diner

University of Maryland students are no strangers to the charms of Plato's, a Greek diner in College Park. It's been around since 1994.
What to order: Gyros, Greek food.

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7150 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740

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Pete's Diner

Pete's serves up traditional breakfast food for low prices, as well as some Asian specials.
What to order: vegetarian combo, milkshakes.

212 2nd St SE, Washington, DC 20543

Also featured in:

The Market Lunch

No stop in D.C. is complete without a trip to Market Lunch, located within Eastern Market. There's usually a line, but people wolf down their food quickly at the few tables.
What to order: crab cakes, blueberry buckwheat pancakes.

Eastern Market, Washington, DC

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Also featured in:

Fast Gourmet

Sandwiches out of a converted gas station? It doesn't get more greasy spoon than that. Fast Gourmet is also open late night.
What to order: The Chivito, the Cuban

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1400 W St NW, Washington, DC 20009

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Honorable Mention: Chick & Ruth's

Sure it's a bit of a drive from D.C. But the iconic Chick & Ruth's draws lines out the door no matter what time of day.
What to order: Deli sandwiches, milkshakes, crab cakes, "colossal challenges".

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165 Main St, Annapolis, MD 21401

Visit Website

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Metro 29 Diner

4711 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207

Metro 29, located in Arlington, is one of D.C.'s few New York-style diners. It opened in 1995 and has an on-site bakery.
What to order: Corned beef hash, pancakes, Spanish omelet.

4711 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207

Visit Website

The Diner

2453 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

The Diner is open 24/7 and is from the same family of restaurants as Tryst, The Coupe and Open City. It's particularly packed during weekend brunch.
What to order: eggs bendict, sausage stuffed pancakes, meatloaf, Croque and Dagger

2453 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Florida Avenue Grill

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

The Florida Ave. grill markets itself as the "oldest soul food restaurant in the world." It's been around since 1944, and owner Lacey C. Wilson, Jr. is a D.C. fixture.
What to order: Grits, virginia ham, scrapple.

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Silver Diner

12276 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

Silver Diner has grown from a Rockville stand-alone restaurant to a chain of successful diners reaching as far as New Jersey. Several years ago, the owners switched the menu to have more of a healthy and farm-focused bent, and the results have increased sales dramatically (while improving the food in the process).
What to order: Farm fresh eggs and salads, fruit shakes, anything with bison.

Open in Google Maps

12276 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

Visit Website

Bob & Edith's Diner

2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

Bob and Edith's has been around since the late 60s, and has been a destination for late night, heart-attack-on-a-plate food since.
What to order: 2-2-2 special, homemade biscuits, steak and eggs.

2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

Visit Website

Ben's Chili Bowl

1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

It doesn't get more iconic — or greasy — than Ben's Chili Bowl. The historic destination has been a fixture on U street since 1958, and has seen D.C. evolve and change over the decades.
What to order: Half smoke with chili

Open in Google Maps

1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

La Caraquena

300 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

More of a dive than a diner (and yes, it has been featured on Guy Fieri's show), La Caraquena is an unassuming restaurant located within a motel in Falls Church. It only has a few seats, but it's a destination for its Latin American food.
What to order: Arepas such as J.P.'s favorite, sopa de frijoles.

Open in Google Maps

300 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Visit Website

Osman & Joe's Steak 'n Egg Kitchen

4700 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016

The unassuming Steak 'n' Egg kitchen serves up homestyle fare late at night.
What to order: Steak and eggs with mushrooms, milkshakes, scrapple

4700 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016

Visit Website

Tastee Diner

7731 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

There are three locations of Tastee Diner throughout Maryland, and they all serve breakfast 24/7 in a classic diner car atmosphere.
What to order: Pie, daily specials like chicken and dumplings.

Open in Google Maps

7731 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

Visit Website

Mark's Kitchen

7006 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

Mark's Kitchen has been a fixture of Takoma Park since 1990. It's been known for its vegetarian and vegan options since the beginning.
What to order: Vegetarian fare, Korean dishes, blueberry pancakes

7006 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

Visit Website

Bentley's

6654 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042

This restaurant, adjacent to a hotel along Route 50, feels like something out of another time and place. It used to be a Three Chef's Pancake House.
What to order: Generic breakfast fare, pancakes

Open in Google Maps

6654 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042

Visit Website

Jimmy T's Place

501 E Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Jimmy T's is about as divey as it gets - a no-frills, tiny neighborhood favorite that's actually cheap.
What to order: good coffee, breakfast combos, eggs with a half smoke.

501 E Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Visit Website

Oohh’s & Aahh’s

1005 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001

This U Street staple is known for its soul food dishes.
What to order: mac and cheese, fried chicken.

Open in Google Maps

1005 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Amphora Restaurant

377 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180

Amphora is been a Vienna option for late night fare and Greek-inspired dishes since the 1970s. It also has an on-site bakery.
What to order: pastries, peanut butter pancakes.

Open in Google Maps

377 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180

Visit Website

Duplex Diner

2004 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

This diner, a particular favorite of the gay community, just got a design makeover.
What to order: Tater tots, meatloaf.

Open in Google Maps

2004 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Related Maps

Nick's Diner

11199 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Open for breakfast and lunch only, this Greek-style is run by an entire family, and diners can catch up with owner Nick near the grill.
What to order: Greek omelet, gyros, ham off-the-bone sandwiches, home fries

Open in Google Maps

11199 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Visit Website

Ollie's Trolley

425 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

The D.C. location of Ollie's Trolley is a remnant of what used to be a robust national chain. The restaurant is a particular favorite among tourists.
What to order: Cheeseburgers, fries.

Open in Google Maps

425 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Visit Website