All-American dumplings at Batik are stuffed with barbecued pork, celery, and carrots and strewn with red cabbage. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Skewers of chicken satay with peanut sauce at Batik. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Bayou Bakery’s muffaletta sandwich is piled high with salami, ham, provolone, and olive spread. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Wide noodles with shrimp at Bangkok 54. Photograph by Chris Leaman
Sugared beignets and strong chicory coffee at Bayou Bakery. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Asado de Tira (grilled beef short ribs) at Carbon Restaurant in Rockville. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Rotisserie chicken at Carbon Restaurant in Rockville. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Carbon’s anise-scented alfajores cookies are filled with creamy dulce de leche. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Mac n’ cheese at Cheesetique in Del Ray Photograph by Scott Suchman
A sharable cheese board at Cheesetique. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Mandu, deep-fried vegetable dumplings from Da Moim. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Da Moim’s braised short rib with carrots, chestnut, and onions with pine needles. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Kimchee quesadillla with kimchee/chili sauce at Da Moim. Photograph by Scott Suchman
A cool, mayo-bound lobster roll with fries at Freddy’s Lobster & Clams in Bethesda. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Hanging out at Freddy’s Lobster & Clams in Bethesda. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Hong Kong-style shrimp dumpling soup at Full Key in Wheaton. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Roast duck at Full Key in Wheaton. Photograph by Scott Suchman
A cook at Full Key prepares roast pork. Photograph by Scott Suchman
An assortment of panchan—Korean small plates—at Annandale’s Gom Ba Woo. Photograph by Scott Suchman
A seafood pancake is ready to eat at Gom Ba Woo. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Gom Ba Woo’s spicy barbecue pork belly. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Guajillo’s generously sized shrimp ceviche. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Cinnamon-and-sugar-dusted churros from Arlington’s Guajillo. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Guajillo’s potent margarita. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Pan-fried momo dumplings at Himalyan Heritage in Adams Morgan. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Fried cauliflower with spicy-sweet soy sauce at Himalayan Heritage in Adams Morgan. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Kao Thai in Silver Spring serves one of the area’s best red curries. This one is made with chicken. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Kao Thai’s chicken-stuffed curry puffs. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Cilantro-sprinkled naan from Tenleytown’s Masala Art. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Bel puri—a puffed-rice salad with chopped mango, peanuts, and tamarind chutney—at Masala Art. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Chicken tikka emerges from the tandoori oven at Masala Art. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Pizzeria Orso in Falls Church serves blistered, Neapolitan-style pizzas. Photograph by Scott Suchman
“Cow on the Open Field”—also known as shaky beef with watercress and onions—from Present in Falls Church. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Present’s tangy seafood salad is artfully presented in a split pineapple. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Lamb, barbacoa, and pork tacos from R&R Taqueria, housed in an Elkridge gas station. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Plump chive dumplings from Sabai Sabai Simply Thai in Germantown. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Duck salad from Sabai Sabai Simply Thai. Photograph by Scott Suchman
A Shack Burger, fries, and a black-and-white shake from downtown DC’s Shake Shack. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Toki hakata classic ramen—with pork loin, egg, pickled ginger, sesame, scallions, and seaweed—at Toki Underground on H Street, Northeast. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Pan-fried seafood dumplings at Toki Underground. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Pizzas waiting to be served at Spike Mendelsohn’s We the Pizza in Capitol Hill. Photograph by Scott Suchman
The pie selection at We, the Pizza. Photograph by Scott Suchman
We, the Pizza’s Forest Shroomin’ pie, with wild mushrooms and fresh thyme. Photograph by Scott Suchman
Alven Jeter makes orange soda from scratch at We, the Pizza. Photograph by Scott Suchman
