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