A Taste of DC

Steamed crabs at the Maine Avenue Wharf


 Most cities have a singular culinary claim to fame: think Chicago and deep dish pizza, San Francisco and sourdough bread, and Memphis and bar-b-que. When you come to Washington, though—it’s a toss-up between two favorites: hard crabs and half smokes. The nearby Chesapeake Bay is chock full of mouth-watering seafood, including standout local favorite; blue crabs. They’re easier to eat than you might think and in season through September.

In-the-know locals will tell you the absolute best seafood can be bought fresh from the floating barges at one of the last surviving open-air fish markets on the East Coast: the lively Maine Avenue Wharf. Choose your favorite and they’ll steam or fry it right on-site for you at no charge. To get there, take Metro to the Waterfront or L'Enfant Plaza stops: it’s about a 10-minute walk from either and you’ll cross a couple of busy downtown streets, so be sure to go during daylight hours.

Ben’s Chili Bowl, U and 13^th St NW

If you’re not craving seafood, be on the lookout for another taste of DC: the half-smoke (a slightly spicy cross between a hot dog and a Polish sausage). They’re delicious, made locally, and unique to the region. Here, you can get them everywhere from street vendors to farmers markets, but for a truly authentic half-smoke experience, go to Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street (take Metro to the U Street station).

 
Ben’s is also known for its history and for its famous fans, including Bill Cosby, long rumored to send a driver from New York to DC just to pick up his favorite snack. They even make a vegetarian version of their legendary chili. The Secret Service has been known to frequent Ben’s with another VIP; President Obama. When you’re in the Capital, it doesn’t get much more local than that!