clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Copperwood Tavern
Copperwood Tavern
Photo: Official

So Many Ways to Eat Meat on a Stick

View as Map
Copperwood Tavern
| Photo: Official

Meats on sticks. There can never be enough. Ubiquitous at state and county fairs, though, the carnivore-friendly lollipops become more scarce when it comes to dining indoors or outside the vicinity of a ferris wheel. But while it may be tough to find a deep fried pepperoni-and-mozzarella stick at a restaurant in the District, there's a plethora of other varieties of skewered meat available for eating all around town.

Here, Eater takes a look at 10 different ways to get a meat-on-a-stick fix in the area.
—Jody Fellows

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

The corn dog:
The corn dog is a classic. A fairground staple, the hot dog slingers at DC-3 offer up their version of the quintessential food on a stick, freshly made in house, at their joint on Capitol Hill in all its battered glory.

Copperwood Tavern

Copy Link

The Fancier Corn Dog
Because sometimes, a hot dog just won’t do. Putting a hoity-toity spin on the tried-and-true meat on a stick, Arlington’s Copperwood Tavern ditches the wiener and dips battered duck confit into the fryer and serves it up with smoked ketchup and beer mustard.

Charlie Palmer Steak

Copy Link

The Fanciest Corn Dog
Taking the crown as swankiest corn dog in D.C., Charlie Palmer Steak pulls out all the stops with their fancy lounge favorite. Charlie Palmer’s lobster corn dogs feature the delicate under-the-sea meat surrounded by corn batter with a smoked cocktail sauce for dipping.

Fogo de Chao

Copy Link

Churrascaria
Fogo de Chao brings the meat on a stick tableside at this churrascaria on Pennsylvania Avenue. With a lineup of more than 10 types of meat, the most popular choice at the Brazilian steakhouse’s D.C. location is the top sirloin, or picanha, cut. Fogo offers up the staked steak in both a traditional and garlic-seasoned version.

G Street Food

Copy Link

Satay
The street-food-themed G Street Food does a Thai version of satay at all three of their D.C. locations. The dish dresses up skewered marinated chicken breast and vegetables with a peanut sauce and serves it on a bed of rice and mixed greens.

Founding Farmers

Copy Link

Bacon on a Stick
In an effort to keep hands grease-free, Founding Farmers takes everyone’s favorite part of the pig and puts it on a stick. If doctors gave out Bacon Lollis –thick-cut bacon glazed with cinnamon-brown sugar– at the office, their waiting rooms would be standing room only.

Kabob Palace

Copy Link

Kabobs
Chunks of meat start off on a skewer but are nestled next to rice or wrapped in naan by the time they reach the plate at Kabob Palace in Arlington. The crowd favorites are the lamb and chicken dishes at this Crystal City joint which is open 24 hours a day.

Kushi Izakaya & Sushi

Copy Link

Kushi
Kushi are the bamboo or metal skewers used in Japanese cooking to hold meat while grilling. The appropriately named D.C. izakaya, Kushi, specializes in the meat-on-stick cuisine with duck breast and scallion, pork belly and beef short rib as their most popular sellers.

Sate Indonesian Food

Copy Link

Meat on a Stick on Wheels
A self-proclaimed “satépreneur,” Sonny Setiantoko first began serving Indonesian fare at his Alexandria restaurant but has since expanded his reach and is now cruising around the streets of D.C. in the Saté Truck. The top-billed item at his rolling purveyor of meat on a stick is chicken saté, grilled marinated skewers of chicken covered in a sticky peanut sauce.

Toki Underground

Copy Link

Meat on a Stick Cocktail
Perhaps D.C.’s only meat-on-a-stick creation that requires a designated driver, the ramen noodle shop’s signature cocktail, the Toki Monster, garnishes Bulliet bourbon, Barenjager honey liqueur and Peat Monster scotch with a grilled pork belly skewer.

DC-3

The corn dog:
The corn dog is a classic. A fairground staple, the hot dog slingers at DC-3 offer up their version of the quintessential food on a stick, freshly made in house, at their joint on Capitol Hill in all its battered glory.

Copperwood Tavern

The Fancier Corn Dog
Because sometimes, a hot dog just won’t do. Putting a hoity-toity spin on the tried-and-true meat on a stick, Arlington’s Copperwood Tavern ditches the wiener and dips battered duck confit into the fryer and serves it up with smoked ketchup and beer mustard.

Charlie Palmer Steak

The Fanciest Corn Dog
Taking the crown as swankiest corn dog in D.C., Charlie Palmer Steak pulls out all the stops with their fancy lounge favorite. Charlie Palmer’s lobster corn dogs feature the delicate under-the-sea meat surrounded by corn batter with a smoked cocktail sauce for dipping.

Fogo de Chao

Churrascaria
Fogo de Chao brings the meat on a stick tableside at this churrascaria on Pennsylvania Avenue. With a lineup of more than 10 types of meat, the most popular choice at the Brazilian steakhouse’s D.C. location is the top sirloin, or picanha, cut. Fogo offers up the staked steak in both a traditional and garlic-seasoned version.

G Street Food

Satay
The street-food-themed G Street Food does a Thai version of satay at all three of their D.C. locations. The dish dresses up skewered marinated chicken breast and vegetables with a peanut sauce and serves it on a bed of rice and mixed greens.

Founding Farmers

Bacon on a Stick
In an effort to keep hands grease-free, Founding Farmers takes everyone’s favorite part of the pig and puts it on a stick. If doctors gave out Bacon Lollis –thick-cut bacon glazed with cinnamon-brown sugar– at the office, their waiting rooms would be standing room only.

Kabob Palace

Kabobs
Chunks of meat start off on a skewer but are nestled next to rice or wrapped in naan by the time they reach the plate at Kabob Palace in Arlington. The crowd favorites are the lamb and chicken dishes at this Crystal City joint which is open 24 hours a day.

Kushi Izakaya & Sushi

Kushi
Kushi are the bamboo or metal skewers used in Japanese cooking to hold meat while grilling. The appropriately named D.C. izakaya, Kushi, specializes in the meat-on-stick cuisine with duck breast and scallion, pork belly and beef short rib as their most popular sellers.

Sate Indonesian Food

Meat on a Stick on Wheels
A self-proclaimed “satépreneur,” Sonny Setiantoko first began serving Indonesian fare at his Alexandria restaurant but has since expanded his reach and is now cruising around the streets of D.C. in the Saté Truck. The top-billed item at his rolling purveyor of meat on a stick is chicken saté, grilled marinated skewers of chicken covered in a sticky peanut sauce.

Toki Underground

Meat on a Stick Cocktail
Perhaps D.C.’s only meat-on-a-stick creation that requires a designated driver, the ramen noodle shop’s signature cocktail, the Toki Monster, garnishes Bulliet bourbon, Barenjager honey liqueur and Peat Monster scotch with a grilled pork belly skewer.

Related Maps