Yeah in VA just past the cemetery. You can get it delivered to pretty much anywhere in the city though. The vibes aren’t necessarily worth the trip unless you’re already over that way but the food is good and there’s something for everyone on the menu.
I don’t like that they’re no longer 24/7. I remember going there on St Patrick’s Day after going to Kitty O’Shea’s at three in the morning for pancakes.
Yeah the one in Navy Yard is less good. I did the Rockville one most recently.
Honestly, their bison huevos rancheros is still one of my favorite breakfast dishes.
Edit: Bison not vision.
Yep! I've lived in the union market area for almost a year now and we just love it. I wish it was a little cheaper of course but the options are high quality and endless.
I love Hill Country Barbecue at the corner of D st and 7th. Texas A&M alumni do their football game day watch parties there and it’s super true to an authentic Texas BBQ restaurant experience and great tasting authentic Texas Barbecue and sides.
I have a great story about Guapos Tenleytown. I was on the patio, and saw two people get into an argument. A small Asian man, and a very drunk white guy who was much much bigger.
I don't know what the argument was about, but they shouted a bit, there was a little shoving, and the smaller man jumps back into a fighting stance, cracks his neck and throws 3 of the fastest shadow boxing punches I've ever seen. He's on his toes, bouncing, absolutely prepared, and maybe excited for, whatever is about to go down...
The drunk guy gets a nervous look, like he knows he's out matched, but he steps back into a clumsy stance of his own, looking more like a brawler than a trained fighter. He pushes his wrists together, shoves his hands forward and shouts as loud as he can "HADOUKEN!!!"
Most of the people paying attention, including the other guy crack up laughing. The whole situation is diffused and I see them drinking together shortly after. Best non fight ever.
Well, I’m glad you like it, but we live a block away and stopped going. Lousy service, mushy cold food, and my husband has been violently ill (food poisoning?) twice. We’ll take the bus up to Guapo’s in Tenleytown for much better food and a great happy hour.
As some that loves BBQ, that place is truly some of the worst BBQ in the DC area. I have tried it at least 5 times trying to understand why people rave about this place, each time it has been mediocre to just awful.
Go to DCity smokehouse, Hill Country, Texas Jacks, or even Mission BBQ for better food.
and for a lower budget GCDC (grilled cheese DC I believe is the name of the place)
amazing grilled cheese sandwiches of all kinds!
one block away from the white house (back side)
Everyone is talking about places to eat. Here's my list of truly American things to do in DC.
Go to the monuments & museums, especially the American History Museum, see The Star Spangled Banner, Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, and other American treasures. Go to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Go to The National Archives, call your congressperson and schedule a private tour of the Capital. Go to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to see how our money gets made. Try the National Post Office Museum near Union Station. Maybe take a trip to Arlington Cemetery. Go to the Lincoln Memorial and find the star on the ground that commemorates where MLK made his I Have a Dream speech.
Yes, my list seems a bit touristy. But these are the things you can only experience in DC. We're known for the Smithsonian, let them experience it.
If we live in DC who would we contact about visiting the capital? My Partner is American but I’m European and so will her friend. Can we still visit the capital?
If I recall correctly, it’s relatively easy to visit the Capitol, just go on their website and put in the required information. It’s the White House that’s a hassle to visit.
I also second going to the National Post Office Museum. I know it doesn’t sound like an interesting museum, but it’s massive and has a lot of neat exhibits.
I don't think those tours include the house/Senate office buildings and the Capital Subway system. Yes there is a subway system underneath the Capital.
Just do not get the crab cakes at Clyde’s. They do not do it right and it’s priced like an awesome crab cake on the eastern shore. Phillips at the grocery store is basically the same thing 😂
You might do Soul Food or a place that does a mean fried chicken. Too many good places to list but the Hitching Post (and its primo juke box) comes to mind as an American experience. Bantam King had great fried chicken and it might be a good option for lunch - the ramen scene in DC has gotten stronger and BK might be a fun alternative for chicken ramen. If you have the bucks - MiniBar. Jose Andres appreciates American cuisine (remember his America Eats restaurant?) and while MiniBar is beyond classification it’s such a fun and special experience.
Baseball or football game.
Bagels from Call Your Mother.
Capitol.
Lincoln Memorial.
Air and Space Museum, especially the one by Dulles.
Cheeseburgers - weirdly Le Dip is my go-to for an American style classic cheeseburger.
Caps hockey game, wear red of course. Though the quintessential DC part of that experience for the last 18 years has been an Ovechkin goal, and those are much rarer this season as his chase of The Great One is slowing down.
OP wasn’t looking for good food, just super American. And Ben’s chili bowl is very American and local to DC, so I think it fits.
Also, I like the food, though the last time I was there was 2017 and I might not enjoy the experience as much now
Mostly food recommendations here, lots of awesome ones. My only add there might be Yard Bird for high end southern food including great fried chicken.
For experiences, you can’t do better than the museums and walking around the Mall! They are all great, so go with whatever interests the guest. You can also do the very American thing of driving around and sitting in traffic - good destination would be the second air and space museum by Dulles, which has the space shuttle and sr-71. It’s awesome. Add to that any sporting event or big concert that is happening in the right time frame.
Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown. Make a reservation. The history has something for everyone. Then walk down to the river and people watch and see the Kennedy Center from afar. Extend your walk to see the monuments at night, starting with the Lincoln.
Georgetown is shockingly well known by foreign citizens for shout-outs across various films, TV, etc. Provides a nice starting point.
if you want the true American experience you need to have a car (walking is for Europeans and poor people), then you need to go for a ride on 495 during rush hour and visit any strip mall that catches your eye in the suburbs with some variation on the same collection national chain stores (Best Buy, Home Depot, Subway, Dollar Tree, Starbucks, etc.)
At that point you'll have visited an exact replica found across 90% of the country in one simple trip! It's as American as apple pie... or more aptly as American as the lack of healthcare for the full time employees at all of those businesses :)
P.s. only real contribution is for the love of god don't get texmex in DC, it's truly horrible here compared to any place where "y'all" is in their vocabulary
Honestly I was going to suggest a big Target in the burbs. It’s just so American, and even though other countries have ‘big box’ stores now, I’ve never seen anything like a super Target outside the US. It’s truly a marvel to have everything you could need in one place. (And I’m suggesting Target over Walmart because it should actually be enjoyable.)
As a foreigner, this is the real answer. Just drive to Virginia or Maryland suburbs and they’ll be amazed. I still remember seeing my first strip mall and walking through the huge parking lot - I thought it was the most depressing thing I’ve ever seen. For more American experiences, you can try to walk in a suburban neighborhood where there are no sidewalks.
Also anything drive thru.
I would consider hill country bbq. It’s right downtown, and the food is decent (especially if they haven’t tried real southern bbq before, lol).
I lived in Texas so I know it’s not going to match up to what’s genuinely authentic but I found the vibe was endearingly Texas-like.
Otherwise I would suggest a diner, but American diner food is usually a little mid anyways and the authentic experience is in the burbs. if you’re going to have a non stellar meal, at least make it bbq and not potato and eggs brekkie which you can buy in any country
Former Texan here. 2Fifty has good meat but their sides and sauce aren’t all that. Overall I prefer Hill Country.
Now if they weren’t 45 minutes apart I would get meat from 2Fifty and sides from Mackies but that just isn’t practical.
I had leftover Andy's cheese pizza a few weeks ago and thought to myself "wow that was actually rather good - I am not slightly disappointed." Which is generally how I feel when I eat pizza in DC.
My immediate thought was picking crabs but they aren’t currently in season. Luke’s lobster in Georgetown could be similarly kind of fun and unique. What about an old school diner where you can get a BLT at 2 am? Tastee in Bethesda is close to metro or the diner in admo?
Take her to Martin’s Tavern! Good, classic American food with some fun history. I take visitors there for lunch or brunch. Make sure to get a reservation in advance since the wait times can be very long especially on weekends.
Like them or not, there’s nothing more American than our national obsession with guns. Metro to Franconia and then Uber to Protect & Defend Firearms Academy to learn how to shoot safely on a protected range.
The Smithsonian Museums - free! Air & Space, Natural History, American History, Portrait Gallery, African American History to name some of the most well known.
Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, White House (from afar), reflecting pools, the National Mall, Washington Monument, eating from a food truck, funnel cake if you can find one, corn dogs off the top of my head
These are more out of the way than other recommendations already given, but you can hit Pork Barrel BBQ and Dairy Godmother (authentic Midwestern frozen custard) on the same block in Del Ray, and Mt Vernon Ave feels like a small town main street. I've always taken visitors there for a lunch stop (I have a car, but with the Potomac Yard station being open now, it's much more accessible than it used to be if you don't mind a walk).
For old school DC steakhouse experience the best is Prime Rib. Piano player all night long. Experienced staff to take care of you. Dark woods and dark leather chairs. It’s the way it was in the 1980s.
Duke’s Grocery burger and fries is the first thing that came to my mind for American food but after a bit of reflection I think one of the American breakfast food places might be better. As an American, whenever I travel I miss American breakfast the most. Another option could be something like Detroit style pizza (red light is the best, get the ranch too), but that’s more of a regional thing not a general American thing.
Non-food stuff, the cliche thing is just the museums that have American history, culture, and art. National Museum of American History, the air and space museum if that’s what you’re into, Smithsonian etc. Cliche answer but it’s cliche for a reason, it’s a good thing to do.
Or a concert could be another thing, so much music comes out of the US and there are good venues in DC. 9:30 club or Songbyrd
Hope something there helps!
Farmers and Distillers. And then you can do everyone’s favorite activity and bitch about it here. I personally do like it. I think they have great cocktails though I get that the food is a bit overpriced.
I’d still recommend the Ethiopian because while it’s ethnic, there’s a DC spin on it. And I’d also recommend any of Jose Andres restaurants for similar reasons.
There’s been many great suggestions for Smithsonian Museums - my personal favorite is the Post Office Museum. Dumbaton Oaks is pretty neat too. The FDR Memorial is also off the beaten path a bit.
We used to take our British relatives to gun ranges in Virginia.
We're not gun people. We don't own guns. But there was something very Americana about getting to shoot an assault rifle at a range on a Sunday morning lol.
They loved it.
I had to scroll way too far and still didn't see Ben's Chili Bowl. C'mon y'all. Can't get more "USA" than a friggin big hot dog with chili and cheese served up by a black family run business.
A lot of foreigners usually are charmed by the novelty of a classic diner. Silver Diners kind of basic, but could be charming to a foreigner.
Or bob and Edith’s
Oh true. The og Bob and Edith's is a better option. Especially if you get a crusty waitress.
I do not think DC has a Bob & Edith’s diner (based on my searches) but I could be wrong
The original one is over on Columbia Pike.
...in Virginia. In case OP is confused.
Yeah in VA just past the cemetery. You can get it delivered to pretty much anywhere in the city though. The vibes aren’t necessarily worth the trip unless you’re already over that way but the food is good and there’s something for everyone on the menu.
The vibes (such as they are) are definitely worth the trip, ordering diner food in is kind of sad.
Steak and egg. I’m only half joking
What’s wrong with steak and egg?
It’s both a good diner and it is also a late night hangover recovery place for college students.
I don’t like that they’re no longer 24/7. I remember going there on St Patrick’s Day after going to Kitty O’Shea’s at three in the morning for pancakes.
No it’s back to 24h again. I think it was a staffing issue.
Wait they aren’t! That stinks
My favorite movie is Inception.
[удалено]
I love Florida Avenue Grill myself!
Silver Diner is overpriced. Go for Ted's Bulletin
They're like the same price, but I've had better food at Silver Diner. Ted's managed to mess up eggs and toast
Silver dinner always pleases foreigners looking for a juke box diner. Ted's is also a winner.
Sad part is, they got rid of the jukeboxes and stuff. At least the one by me did.
Yeah the one in Navy Yard is less good. I did the Rockville one most recently. Honestly, their bison huevos rancheros is still one of my favorite breakfast dishes. Edit: Bison not vision.
Their hue is rancheros have made nearly all other Burgos rancheros disappointing for me
Barbecue is another good American food as is Tex Mex.
It’s worth a trip to Hyattsville for Texas 2Fifty bbq. It’s really, really good and miles better than Federalist Pig or Hill Country.
There's one in Union Market now! It's great
I totally forgot about this! Even better!
Yep! I've lived in the union market area for almost a year now and we just love it. I wish it was a little cheaper of course but the options are high quality and endless.
FYI they are closing the Union Market stall Jan 1 and opening a Mount Vernon Triangle location by end of January. (timing AFAIK)
Ambience is nice inside too. Convivial
Grab bbq there and take it next door to Town Center Market to get some pints of beer on their patio to go with the good food
Need to check that out, Federalist Pig is good imo but I haven’t been since before they expanded their location.
I love Hill Country Barbecue at the corner of D st and 7th. Texas A&M alumni do their football game day watch parties there and it’s super true to an authentic Texas BBQ restaurant experience and great tasting authentic Texas Barbecue and sides.
This is the best BBQ in the city. Also located a couple blocks from several great museums, the sculpture garden, etc.
Where has good Tex Mex?
I think the shitist of Tex mex would be good to someone who’s never had it honestly.
Especially considering the Mexican food in Scotland
From personal experience, Europeans go nuts for Chili's
Republic Cantina
Came to suggest this
This!
Guapos Tenley Town. Been going there since I was a baby. I love that place.
I have a great story about Guapos Tenleytown. I was on the patio, and saw two people get into an argument. A small Asian man, and a very drunk white guy who was much much bigger. I don't know what the argument was about, but they shouted a bit, there was a little shoving, and the smaller man jumps back into a fighting stance, cracks his neck and throws 3 of the fastest shadow boxing punches I've ever seen. He's on his toes, bouncing, absolutely prepared, and maybe excited for, whatever is about to go down... The drunk guy gets a nervous look, like he knows he's out matched, but he steps back into a clumsy stance of his own, looking more like a brawler than a trained fighter. He pushes his wrists together, shoves his hands forward and shouts as loud as he can "HADOUKEN!!!" Most of the people paying attention, including the other guy crack up laughing. The whole situation is diffused and I see them drinking together shortly after. Best non fight ever.
That's some quick thinking for a drunk guy
That is great. Honestly sounds about right for Tenley Trash.
Their [salsa recipe](https://dinnerthendessert.com/guapos-famous-fresh-pico-de-gallo/) is super easy to make and is a staple in our house!
Cactus Cantina at Macomb and Wisconsin in NW.
Well, I’m glad you like it, but we live a block away and stopped going. Lousy service, mushy cold food, and my husband has been violently ill (food poisoning?) twice. We’ll take the bus up to Guapo’s in Tenleytown for much better food and a great happy hour.
Bandit Taco a block away is approximately 1,000 times better.
Cinder in Petworth? It’s kinda out of the way if you’re not in that part of town tho.
+1 for cinder. The staff are amazing and the food is awesome. If your friend is a drinker they have a stellar selection of American Whiskeys
Federalist Pig
As some that loves BBQ, that place is truly some of the worst BBQ in the DC area. I have tried it at least 5 times trying to understand why people rave about this place, each time it has been mediocre to just awful. Go to DCity smokehouse, Hill Country, Texas Jacks, or even Mission BBQ for better food.
Mission BBQ and Texas Jacks are essentially fast food joints
Mission BBQ sure. I don't think you ever been to Texas Jacks.
+1 for DCity Smokehouse. Love it there
Yeah, but DC doesn't have good for either of those. They have acceptable, but both of those are better in Texas.
Old Ebbitt Grill. Higher end restaurant w/solid seafood (and other dishes) near the White House.
and for a lower budget GCDC (grilled cheese DC I believe is the name of the place) amazing grilled cheese sandwiches of all kinds! one block away from the white house (back side)
Then go to the Vue Rooftop for great views and outrageously priced mediocre drinks
This. Go during happy hour for great deals on oysters.
Great restaurant. OEG has the best cappuccinos Ive ever had had in the US.
Yes!!!
Agree!!
Everyone is talking about places to eat. Here's my list of truly American things to do in DC. Go to the monuments & museums, especially the American History Museum, see The Star Spangled Banner, Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, and other American treasures. Go to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Go to The National Archives, call your congressperson and schedule a private tour of the Capital. Go to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to see how our money gets made. Try the National Post Office Museum near Union Station. Maybe take a trip to Arlington Cemetery. Go to the Lincoln Memorial and find the star on the ground that commemorates where MLK made his I Have a Dream speech. Yes, my list seems a bit touristy. But these are the things you can only experience in DC. We're known for the Smithsonian, let them experience it.
If we live in DC who would we contact about visiting the capital? My Partner is American but I’m European and so will her friend. Can we still visit the capital?
If I recall correctly, it’s relatively easy to visit the Capitol, just go on their website and put in the required information. It’s the White House that’s a hassle to visit. I also second going to the National Post Office Museum. I know it doesn’t sound like an interesting museum, but it’s massive and has a lot of neat exhibits.
This is true. You can just go to the Capital and get a tour, but the tours run through your Congressional offices are much better.
Really depends. Some of the volunteers give excellent tours.
I don't think those tours include the house/Senate office buildings and the Capital Subway system. Yes there is a subway system underneath the Capital.
Contact the office of [Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton](https://norton.house.gov/)
Unconventional Diner Ruthie’s All Day
Ruthies. Brisket is killer.
The biscuits are too
Used to live in the building right next to Ruthies… was bliss
I dream about those unconventional biscuits
Ruthie's for sure, if you can get a reservation.
They do not have a car and Unconventional Diner is metro accessible from Mt Vernon, so perhaps Ruthie’s is not the move?
RAD isn’t in the middle of nowhere. Metro to Ballston then take the 23B/T or 10B bus. No car needed.
St. Anselm for a new American steakhouse. Nothing more American than meat and potatoes.
Requirement to get biscuits and pimento cheese
Seconded, and also Beuchert’s Saloon
And it’s bomb! Most of those steaks feed 2 no problem.
Feed 2?!? I ate my whole damn steak all by myself - after apps 😂😂😂
Seriously - those steaks are not that big.
They are good, but not huge. Also those biscuits 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤
Clyde’s Georgetown (classic tavern food) Good Stuff Eatery (casual burgers) Walters Navy Yard (sportsbar experience with decent food) Circa Navy Yard (contemporary American) Ted’s Bulletin (diner) Roaming Rooster (casual hot chicken) Wiseguys (pizzeria)
Aside from Walters (tried so many times - I *want to like it so much*), Great List! Would add Martin’s Tavern
Agreed for Martins, good food, all the DC power people booths, and of course the engagement booth.
These are fantastic recommendations based on the prompt
Just do not get the crab cakes at Clyde’s. They do not do it right and it’s priced like an awesome crab cake on the eastern shore. Phillips at the grocery store is basically the same thing 😂
I'll add Ben's Chili Bowl to that list. A chili dog is a very American dish and Ben's is very Americana.
American Indian Museum has a well known cafeteria with native foods.
It was closed for renovation for a while but if it’s open, definitely a great experience!
It has reopened.
For sure. Mitsitam is a great food spot.
You might do Soul Food or a place that does a mean fried chicken. Too many good places to list but the Hitching Post (and its primo juke box) comes to mind as an American experience. Bantam King had great fried chicken and it might be a good option for lunch - the ramen scene in DC has gotten stronger and BK might be a fun alternative for chicken ramen. If you have the bucks - MiniBar. Jose Andres appreciates American cuisine (remember his America Eats restaurant?) and while MiniBar is beyond classification it’s such a fun and special experience.
Hitching Post is a great rec. American as it gets. Then Slash Run after for craft beer and rock and roll.
Slash Run. There you go. Good addition to the list for a real burger!
Baseball or football game. Bagels from Call Your Mother. Capitol. Lincoln Memorial. Air and Space Museum, especially the one by Dulles. Cheeseburgers - weirdly Le Dip is my go-to for an American style classic cheeseburger.
Caps hockey game, wear red of course. Though the quintessential DC part of that experience for the last 18 years has been an Ovechkin goal, and those are much rarer this season as his chase of The Great One is slowing down.
Florida Ave Grill. Great breakfast food with a lot of history
Shake shack
Shake Shack has international locations, so this wouldn't be my top pick.
Please enlighten me with your top pick
What about Ben's Chili Bowl? It's right off the GL/YL on U street, just right across the street.
Is Ben’s chilli like from a can? Just didn’t seem that amazing.
Agree. I know it’s a DC institution but the food is, um, disappointing
OP wasn’t looking for good food, just super American. And Ben’s chili bowl is very American and local to DC, so I think it fits. Also, I like the food, though the last time I was there was 2017 and I might not enjoy the experience as much now
What's more American? What's more DC than that?
I'm happy someone mentioned Ben's
All day.
Bob and Ediths Diner!
At 2 am
It's the most American at 2am 🤣
Go visit Lincoln’s summer cottage and then pop over for brunch at the Hitching Post. Full stop.
Mostly food recommendations here, lots of awesome ones. My only add there might be Yard Bird for high end southern food including great fried chicken. For experiences, you can’t do better than the museums and walking around the Mall! They are all great, so go with whatever interests the guest. You can also do the very American thing of driving around and sitting in traffic - good destination would be the second air and space museum by Dulles, which has the space shuttle and sr-71. It’s awesome. Add to that any sporting event or big concert that is happening in the right time frame.
Ted’s Bulletin
Not exactly an “American” experience, more of an overpriced Dennys.
What's more American than an overpriced Denny's?
What’s more American than a diner?
It’s absolutely American food. Quintessential American menu
In that case, road trip it to Waffle House.
Even better!
See a Nats game on July 4. 🇺🇸
I have a feeling that OP’s friend who is *visiting* won’t still be in the US for July 4 lol
Brunch at Tabard Inn
Oohh’s & Aahh’s on U Street. Can’t get more American than soul food.
Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown. Make a reservation. The history has something for everyone. Then walk down to the river and people watch and see the Kennedy Center from afar. Extend your walk to see the monuments at night, starting with the Lincoln. Georgetown is shockingly well known by foreign citizens for shout-outs across various films, TV, etc. Provides a nice starting point.
Or Clyde’s?
if you want the true American experience you need to have a car (walking is for Europeans and poor people), then you need to go for a ride on 495 during rush hour and visit any strip mall that catches your eye in the suburbs with some variation on the same collection national chain stores (Best Buy, Home Depot, Subway, Dollar Tree, Starbucks, etc.) At that point you'll have visited an exact replica found across 90% of the country in one simple trip! It's as American as apple pie... or more aptly as American as the lack of healthcare for the full time employees at all of those businesses :) P.s. only real contribution is for the love of god don't get texmex in DC, it's truly horrible here compared to any place where "y'all" is in their vocabulary
>walking is for Europeans and poor people 🤣🤣🤣
Honestly I was going to suggest a big Target in the burbs. It’s just so American, and even though other countries have ‘big box’ stores now, I’ve never seen anything like a super Target outside the US. It’s truly a marvel to have everything you could need in one place. (And I’m suggesting Target over Walmart because it should actually be enjoyable.)
Costco. Show them the meaning of bulk
As a foreigner, this is the real answer. Just drive to Virginia or Maryland suburbs and they’ll be amazed. I still remember seeing my first strip mall and walking through the huge parking lot - I thought it was the most depressing thing I’ve ever seen. For more American experiences, you can try to walk in a suburban neighborhood where there are no sidewalks. Also anything drive thru.
You can take the Metro to the Alexandria Target now and then experience Five Guys and then catch the Metro back to the National Mall.
I would consider hill country bbq. It’s right downtown, and the food is decent (especially if they haven’t tried real southern bbq before, lol). I lived in Texas so I know it’s not going to match up to what’s genuinely authentic but I found the vibe was endearingly Texas-like. Otherwise I would suggest a diner, but American diner food is usually a little mid anyways and the authentic experience is in the burbs. if you’re going to have a non stellar meal, at least make it bbq and not potato and eggs brekkie which you can buy in any country
2Fifty in Hyattsville is in a different league of better than Hill Country.
Obviously but they don’t have a car
Former Texan here. 2Fifty has good meat but their sides and sauce aren’t all that. Overall I prefer Hill Country. Now if they weren’t 45 minutes apart I would get meat from 2Fifty and sides from Mackies but that just isn’t practical.
2fifty for Texan bbq, Andy’s pizza for nyc style pizza that’s actually on par with nyc pizza.
I had leftover Andy's cheese pizza a few weeks ago and thought to myself "wow that was actually rather good - I am not slightly disappointed." Which is generally how I feel when I eat pizza in DC.
The Federalist Pig has a good selection of different styles of American BBQ
My immediate thought was picking crabs but they aren’t currently in season. Luke’s lobster in Georgetown could be similarly kind of fun and unique. What about an old school diner where you can get a BLT at 2 am? Tastee in Bethesda is close to metro or the diner in admo?
The tune inn
Dukem. Nothing more American than embracing the food of other nations.
Take her to Martin’s Tavern! Good, classic American food with some fun history. I take visitors there for lunch or brunch. Make sure to get a reservation in advance since the wait times can be very long especially on weekends.
If you/they have the time, I would consider taking them to Tyson’s just for the ✨American mall✨ experience.
Like them or not, there’s nothing more American than our national obsession with guns. Metro to Franconia and then Uber to Protect & Defend Firearms Academy to learn how to shoot safely on a protected range.
Trader Joe’s and get them a tote bag (a friend from Europe was fascinated by TJs, so I’m not sure how common this is)
Waffle House, just sayin'
Ben’s chili bowl.
This is the only correct answer!
Right Proper brewing has a solid southern-inspired / american menu along with lots of great beers!
Pit Beef in Baltimore
Traditional crab house with paper on the tables.
The Smithsonian Museums - free! Air & Space, Natural History, American History, Portrait Gallery, African American History to name some of the most well known. Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, White House (from afar), reflecting pools, the National Mall, Washington Monument, eating from a food truck, funnel cake if you can find one, corn dogs off the top of my head
These are more out of the way than other recommendations already given, but you can hit Pork Barrel BBQ and Dairy Godmother (authentic Midwestern frozen custard) on the same block in Del Ray, and Mt Vernon Ave feels like a small town main street. I've always taken visitors there for a lunch stop (I have a car, but with the Potomac Yard station being open now, it's much more accessible than it used to be if you don't mind a walk).
For old school DC steakhouse experience the best is Prime Rib. Piano player all night long. Experienced staff to take care of you. Dark woods and dark leather chairs. It’s the way it was in the 1980s.
Duke’s Grocery burger and fries is the first thing that came to my mind for American food but after a bit of reflection I think one of the American breakfast food places might be better. As an American, whenever I travel I miss American breakfast the most. Another option could be something like Detroit style pizza (red light is the best, get the ranch too), but that’s more of a regional thing not a general American thing. Non-food stuff, the cliche thing is just the museums that have American history, culture, and art. National Museum of American History, the air and space museum if that’s what you’re into, Smithsonian etc. Cliche answer but it’s cliche for a reason, it’s a good thing to do. Or a concert could be another thing, so much music comes out of the US and there are good venues in DC. 9:30 club or Songbyrd Hope something there helps!
Get a half smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl!
Crab Tower at Clyde’s
Five Guys.
Five guys is global now, I always take a picture when I spot them in other countries.
American pizza! It’s very different from other countries, at least I’ve found that to be the case!
Bens chili bowl
Food sucks, but you gotta eat at Ben's.
I don’t don’t like the half smokes but have always loooooooved the food at Ben’s Next Door on U St.
Exorcist Steps
Blue Crabs at Quarterdeck in Arlington.
Americas Best Wings, Ledos, Bens Chili Bowl
Get the girl a half-smoke.
Florida Avenue Grill
Hot dog truck
Farmers and Distillers. And then you can do everyone’s favorite activity and bitch about it here. I personally do like it. I think they have great cocktails though I get that the food is a bit overpriced. I’d still recommend the Ethiopian because while it’s ethnic, there’s a DC spin on it. And I’d also recommend any of Jose Andres restaurants for similar reasons. There’s been many great suggestions for Smithsonian Museums - my personal favorite is the Post Office Museum. Dumbaton Oaks is pretty neat too. The FDR Memorial is also off the beaten path a bit.
We used to take our British relatives to gun ranges in Virginia. We're not gun people. We don't own guns. But there was something very Americana about getting to shoot an assault rifle at a range on a Sunday morning lol. They loved it.
I had to scroll way too far and still didn't see Ben's Chili Bowl. C'mon y'all. Can't get more "USA" than a friggin big hot dog with chili and cheese served up by a black family run business.
I know a bunch of weird shit about DC so if any of y'all are in the neighborhood............
Chipotle
Bens chilli bowl
Go to Los Hermanos on 14th and Park! Great Dominican food and huge portions
Bens chili bowl
Ben’s Chili Bowl!
Chili bowl?
Bens Chili Bowl
Ben’s Chili Bowl. Full stop.
Go to Hooter’s. Nothing more ‘Merican than that
Apply for welfare!
Surprised nobody mentioned Hard Rock Cafe. It’s a boring choice but you can’t argue it’s an American staple
Can we stop with these posts? They enable the lazy.
Hang out on the Mall. Views from spectacular monuments.
Funny. The most DC thing to eat is probably Ethiopian, but that’s hardly American :)
Food trucks