Great food near Verizon center

[bythebayov]

My husband and I will be traveling to DC from the 10th-12th of Dec. We would like to eat some truely great and inexpensive food (think street-food, great sandwiches, local faves, pizza, etc.) We are both adventurous eaters and will travel for great food but would prefer to stay close to the hotel if at all possible. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance!

[hamster]

Taylor Gourmet has tremendous hoagie sandwiches, high quality ingredients. The newly opened location at Mount Vernon Square is walkable from the Verizon Center.

I personally loved my doner kabob at Urfa Tomato Kabob (around the corner from the Verizon Center), though there have been mixed reviews posted on this board.

Nando's Peri Peri is affordable rotisserie chicken, also near Verizon Center.

Though I haven't tried it yet, I have heard many raves about Taqueria Nacional (only open weekday lunch), which would be a long walk though doable from Verizon Center.

[bythebayov]

mmm tacos...so many choices, so little time...maybe we'll have to do a food crawl :-) Thanks for the recs!

[lawhound]

It would be a long walk but a very short ride on Metro -- Red Line from Gallery Place/Chinatown to Union Station; Tqueria Nacional, which is great based on one recent visit is a block-and-a-half or so from Union Station.

[Steve]

Full Kee in the 500 block of H St. has good Hong Kong-style food. Duck stuffed with shrimp paste or oyster and ginger casserole. Hole-in-the-wall, though this will not be dirt cheap. For really cheap, go for the steamed buns at Chinatown Express. The condiments on the table are killer.

Mini-burgers at Matchbox. Splitting an order of six is a VERY cheap meal.

I second the rec for Nando's Peri-Peri for fiery red sauce chicken form Mozambique. (though this is a bit of a chain). Get the dark meat, spicy.

[woodleyparkhound]

I second Taylor Gourmet at the 5th and K (Mount Vernon Square) location for great sandwiches.

I had a bad experience at Urfa Tomato Kabob (I've only been once), but I like the rather grungy China Express next door to it on 6th St. for noodle soup and pork dumplings.

For dessert, I like TangySweet Yogurt on 7th St. - esp. the green tea flavor, which is very tangy, but doesn't taste like green tea (a large one with 3 toppings can make a light meal.) The Red Velvet Cupcakery next door to it has its fans, but I'm not one of them.

Nando's Peri Peri is good and relatively inexpensive. This is a South African chain with many international locations. DC is the first market they've opened up here.

Five Guys hamburgers on H St. at 9th (among many other locations) - excellent fast food-style burger. I used to think this was a DC-only chain, but they are going national at a rapid clip. Skip it if there is one where you live, but I mention it because it's cheap, tasty and near Verizon Center.

You said you would travel for great food and that you are interested in local faves / street food / great sandwiches / pizza... Based on that, I would encourage you to use the Metro (red and green/yellow lines are right at Verizon Center) to go to the following places, which are within easy walking distance of metro stations:

Red Line Metro Stations

Dupont Circle: Pizza Paradiso

Cleveland Park: Vace (only carry out, no indoor seating - great pizza - you can get a whole pie, or get a slice or two heated and eat it standing on the sidewalk.) Added plus - Vace is near the National Zoo.

Orange Line Metro (short walk to Metro Center, or get on the Red Line at Verizon Center and change at Metro Center):

Court House: Ray's Hell Burger -- The best hamburger in this area, and well worth traveling for. Walk downhill from Court House Metro to get to it, then continue walking downhill to Rosslyn Metro for the trip back.

Blue or Orange Line (Metro Center)

Eastern Market - The Eastern Market is worth going to - especially on Sat. morning -- for many reasons, among them, the natural casing grilled half smoke, which you eat standing there, and the Market Lunch for a great breakfast (if you can get there early or brave the line).

Green Line Metro

U St. - Ben's Chili Bowl - a "local fave" above all others! This is the home of the DC half smoke - though I really prefer the half smokes at Eastern Market. Also in this area, you'll find the city's best Eithiopian, including Etete and Dukem.

Go to the Metro website to get maps of the system and other info: www.wmata.com

Enjoy our city!

[bythebayov]

Thanks so much for all the awesome recomendations! I am def going to eastern market and plan to try TangySweet Yogurt and Nando's Peri Peri (seems everyone recomended them) thanksk so much for the tip and can't wait to spend a few days in DC!

[Elyssa]

For sandwiches it doesn't get any better than Taylor's Gourmet.

For pizza (and mini burgers) I would check out Matchbox. Another cheap eats, casual spot that I love in that area is California Tortilla. There is also a Five Guys for burgers and fries (a local chain). Nando's Peri-Peri chicken is very affordable and delicious ethnic cuisine.

If you like ethnic, cheap eats you might also consider jumping on the metro and going out for some Ethiopian food. You can take the train directly to U Street and check out Etete.

[bythebayov]

I have had five guys (they have a couple in my are) but Taylor's gourmet sounds great and I would love to try ethiopian food if time permits :-) thanks for the recomendations~

[bythebayov]

quick question, what does everyone order at taylor gourmet and Nando's peri peri?

[Elyssa]

At Taylor's I got the chicken cutlet sandwich with broccoli rabe. It was great! A little on the spicier side but not over powering. I look forward to exploring their menu more.

[Steve]

At Nando's, definitely go for the dark meat chicken, order it as spicy as they make it. I don't think it's as as spicy as most Buffalo wings.

[woodleyparkhound]

At Nando's, I like the chunky Portuguese salad as a side - I also like their Portuguese rolls. I get the hottest sauce they have. For me, it's the right level -- it's hot mind you, but not too hot (at least for me -- I can take more heat than most people I know in the US.)

At Taylor, I'm working my way through the menu; there is a chicken cutlet in my future! I've had the 9th St. Italian and the Chestnut St. - ! I preferred the Chestnut St. - I loved the pepper shooters as a sandwich ingredient!

[repete]

Another solid sandwich option nearby, especially if you are packing a lunch, is Cowgirl Creamery, where they offer a couple (usually one meat and another meatless) daily. It's mostly take out but they've added a couple of seats. They sell out early in the afternoon most days. But it's also a good place to get a little cheese and wine for the hotel room. I'll often pack their sandwiches for flights.

[woodleyparkhound]

Oh my gosh yes! How could I have forgotten to mention the Cowgirl Creamery! They do have wonderful sandwiches on delicious breads - different ones on different days - with both meat and vegetarian options. The sandwiches are pre-wrapped for take-away. You do need to go early in the day, as they sell out of the one you inevitably want early on, and they are closed on Sundays. On other days they close at 7:00. Their cheeses are top notch, the best in the city - but very expensive.

[bythebayov]

LOVE this idea, am familiar with them from SF but didn't know they had an east coast location thanks so much for the tip!

[rHairing]

One thing you might want to consider is the happy hour special. I haven't been to Matchbox in awhile but they used to have an HH special on the woodfired pizzas at the bar. Also, Zaytinya has a happy hour with 4$ mezze. Yes, the menus are limited but good food. I also like Teaism if you are venturing to museums and need somethig near The Mall. The salty chocolate oatmeal cookie is amazing:)

[chicken kabob]

I 2nd Matchbox- I love their mini burgers.

[bythebayov]

will def keep this in mind as I love doing hr and they tend to have great specials at the bar (esp in my area of VA). Love pizza and have alreaday heard about machbox's burgers so this sounds great thanks a mil!

[szeglin]

Teaism at 8th and D. They have great lentil soup there at this time of year. They also have tasty bento boxes and egg rolls, sandwiches soup... and so many great teas! I love their chai. It's very gingery and warming.

[bythebayov]

sounds perfect for a cold winter day, is teaism near the verizon center?

[woodleyparkhound]

It's at 8th and D NW - steps from the Archives Metro, but very easy walking distance from the Verizon Center. Don't miss the salty oat cookie - the regular and the chocolate versions are to die for.