Visiting Washington D.C. for three days is like stepping into a living map where history, culture, and food blend effortlessly. It’s not just a city of monuments and museums, it’s also a true foodie destination. Here you eat with passion, explore neighborhoods with character, and discover that every dish tells you something about the city. If you’re coming for a quick trip, arrive with a curious mind and a ready appetite; Washington D.C. will surprise you more than you think.
Day 1: Classic DC with a real flavor 📅 🍔
You arrive in Washington DC for a three-day work trip, drop your bags at your hotel, and head off to fulfill your responsibilities. But in the middle of the day, you get hungry, and your first stop for food will be Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street. It’s like an initiation ritual into the city’s typical cuisine: you order the half-smoke, and they’ll bring you a smoked sausage smothered in chili that’s pure DC. It’s full of history and energy; you already feel like part of the city.
Afterward, you walk along U Street and end the day eating Ethiopian food at Dukem (or Habesha Market if you prefer something more casual). You can start by ordering “Injera,” that flat, spongy, and slightly sour bread, similar to a crepe, which is the base of traditional Ethiopian food, followed by some delicious spices, and eating with your hands is a complete experience. DC has a huge Ethiopian community, so you’re experiencing real culture from day one.
Day 2: Global trends + cool neighborhoods 🥗 ☕
You wake up and go to Life Alive Organic Café or HipCityVeg. Here you’ll find 2025 vibes: bowls, vegan burgers, plant-based ingredients that feel futuristic but delicious, to start the day. From there, you go to your work activities.
Then you stroll through Georgetown, see the river, and for lunch, you try Peruvian rotisserie chicken (since Peruvian chicken is loved in DC). Pollo Rico or El Chalan are hits. Crispy, juicy, potatoes with huancaina sauce, chaufa rice, aji sauce… pure happiness that satisfies any palate.
At night, it’s time to level up: Oyster Oyster, creative plant based dinner that feels like edible art. Here you’ll try things like mycelium “bacon” or mushroom textures that make you question everything you know about food.
You leave with the feeling of, “this is what it’s like to live life in DC 2025.”
Day 3: Latin Flavors + Local Market + Relaxation 🍲 🥞
You start off light at Eastern Market in Capitol Hill. You stroll around, see the artisans, smell the fresh bread, buy something local, and grab a quick bite for breakfast, and then head to the office.
For lunch, you go for authentic pupusas hot corn masa patties, melted cheese, beans, squash, and pork cracklings…) at El Tamarindo or another Salvadoran food stall as it being a comfort food will travel you to Central America.
In the afternoon, you walk towards Dupont Circle and wrap up your three days with sushi at Sushi Taro, elegant yet relaxed, where you feel like you’re already part of the city and you’ll leave with a touch of nostalgia, but eager to return to the US capital.
THURSDAY 2/25
— SUSHITARO (@SUSHITARO_DC) February 21, 2021
RAMEN KIT take home $15
Kumamoto style "KURO TONKOTSU RAMEN", regular pork broth plus blackened sesame oil "ma-yu"
Comes with sliced roasted pork belly / scallion / wood ear mushroom / ma-yu
We will open key on Tuesday 23rd. No need to rush. We will prepare plenty. pic.twitter.com/ZJBQL3PtY1
You must be wondering, “Why this way?” Because Washington D.C. is a beautiful blend of local identity (spicy and sweet mumbo sauce, Ethiopian food, pupusas, Peruvian chicken vibes) and global trends (innovative plant-based options, mycelium, creative menus).
With this plan, you’ll eat street food, you’ll eat high-end, you’ll experience the culture, and you’ll explore neighborhoods with personality. 😋
