The most famous Black-owned restaurant in DC doesn’t make the best food in the city, but we never pass up the chance to grab a half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl anyways. Prepare to wait in line to get some food, which you can eat at the counter or, if you're lucky, at one of the few red booths. Get the original chili half-smoke with all the fixings, and make sure you ask them to split it. It comes with ridged potato chips, but you can always swap for an order of fries instead.

Halfsmoke is a '90s DC kid’s dream, so take advantage of the opportunity to step back in time at this Shaw establishment with throwback board games, metal lunch boxes, and VHS tapes. Lounge on one of the futons as you dive into boozy milkshakes adorned with old favorites like candy necklaces. Try the Cinnamon Toast Crunch-coated french toast, which is the Saturday morning breakfast you didn’t know you were missing.

Some nights at His & Hers in Woodridge, there’s a DJ spinning a set that will make you want to dance more than eat. Except the upscale American food is so damn good, you won’t be able to put it down. Everything on the menu is bomb, like the spinach and artichoke dip, fried cauliflower nuggets, and lamb chops. But if you’re really stuck, get the ragin’ cajun pasta and have them add all the proteins.

The best barbecue doesn’t come out of swanky restaurants. DCity Smokehouse is a testament to the fact that sliding into the local spot to grab your smoked meat is the best way to go. The Bloomingdale restaurant serves up brisket, turkey, ribs, and more in a refurbished garage splattered in all things DC and HBCU. The smoked wings will burst in your mouth when you bite through the crispy skin—pair them with the tangy housemade barbecue sauce.

Ward 8 deserves all of the best things, and this restaurant is one of them. Kitchen Savages is all about the community, and brings a much-needed fancy spot east of the river, complete with black linen tablecloths, gold flatware, and comfortable blue velvet chairs. It’s a good pick for date night or just for a fun ‘round the way evening. From the signature Savage fries to the jerk lamb chops, you can taste the care that goes into every bite at this Anacostia soul food spot.

The Players Lounge in Congress Heights has been a community staple since the '70s and on any given night, you’ll find it packed with regulars enjoying the A1 soul food and family feel. It’s a step back in time, with stained-glass Michelob overhead lamps, wood paneled walls and an old-school cash register. You’ll find most folks packed into the bar area, but there’s also extra seating in the back. Grab some chicken wings with the greens and mac and cheese and you’re in for a good time.

There are a number of spots that have taken the Black clubstaurant idea and run with it, but The Park on 14th paved the way and we like to give credit where credit is due. You aren’t going to get good food here (or at most clubstaurants), so put that out your mind. But you will have a good time, whether you show up for Happy Hour, brunch, or a late-night grinding session. The vibe is always different, depending on the time of day, day of the week, and which of the four floors you’re on.

This upscale restaurant has been open since 1993 and combines luxury dining with classic southern cuisine. The restaurant aims to transport you to a New Orleans jazz club complete with a grand piano and arched windows. Although we’ve had better soul food, the meals here leave us satisfied. The catfish fingers, the fried green tomatoes, and the banana pudding are popular and worth the hype. If you’re looking for a classy night out and a classic meal to go with it, Georgia Brown’s is your spot.

With one of the largest Ethiopian communities in the country, great Ethiopian restaurants in the city are not in short supply. And some of the best DC has to offer can be found at Letena in Columbia Heights. When you order the vegetarian sampler, you get a beautifully plated meal full of vibrant vegetables that’ll have you thanking whatever higher power you believe in for bringing you this far. After a few cups of honey wine and an order of the silky tiramisu, you’ll feel buzzed and blessed.

This West African take-out spot in Anacostia is run by a mother-and-son team who know their way around the kitchen. The jollof rice, which might be our favorite thing on the menu, is a perfect example. The rice is tender but still holds a bite thanks to the assortment of spices like red pepper, curry, and garlic powder. You can easily eat the jollof on its own, but we recommend the Ghanaian peanut soup made with peanut butter and a smoky tomato base that has us drooling just thinking about it.

Sometimes restaurants are time capsules that embody a city’s culture and legacy. Florida Avenue Grill is a DC institution that has served residents since 1944, and is also the city’s oldest Black-owned restaurant. It’s an old-school diner, so think tattered vinyl booths and bar seats that have withstood the test of time, and serves dishes like BBQ pork spare ribs and chitterlings to customers that range from longtime regulars to the occasional tourist.

Swahili Village in Dupont Circle brings East and West Africa together over a scrumptious spread of food. The restaurant is a popular gathering spot for the who's who of Black DC. It's a great pick for birthday dinners and first dates since the restaurant boasts an assortment of seating options. The menu fuses classic African dishes and ingredients like jollof rice, sweet plantain, and goat stew to create a menu that’ll have you doing the Birdman hand rub while you wait.

Before setting up shop at Union Market, Puddin’ was a popular food stall on Capitol Hill where devout customers devoured things like chicken and beef sausage gumbo, oyster and catfish po’boys, and its signature dish, the Brown Butter Bourbon Bread Puddin’. The staff here will take the time to not only walk you through the menu, but also hand over free samples you’ll take a little too quickly. Regardless of what you order, you have to end your meal with the boozy bread pudding.

The first thing you see when you walk into Cane, a Trinidadian restaurant on H St., is a painting of President Obama eating some doubles. And the doubles at Cane, like the doubles in the painting are overflowing with curried chickpeas and spices. The menu, which pays homage to the island's Afro-Indian street food and other traditional Caribbean dishes, includes heavy hitters like oxtail and snapper escovitch. But if you’re going to try just one thing, get the jerk wings.

This take-out joint on H Street blends two of our favorite things: soul food and Ethiopian cuisine. The fried chicken is coated in a buttermilk marinade made with berbere, an Ethiopian spice blend that consists of chili peppers, coriander, garlic, and ginger. The result is crispy skin that turns this burgundy-caramel red and meat that’s packed with flavor. You can choose your spice level for most dishes, ranging from a mild “Naked” to “Burna Boy” hot.