Pimiento, Please: Where to Eat Pimiento Cheese in Washington

Rumor has it Elvis topped his White Castle burgers with pimiento cheese. These sliders—the only dish here since day one—follow suit.

8081 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring; 301-565-9700.

If you prefer your cheese spreadable, try this version with sharp cheddar and sweet Dromedary-brand pimientos. It’s served with a stack of saltines.

410 Seventh St., NW; 202-556-2050.

This gastropub punches up deviled eggs with cheese, mayo, and pimientos, then adds house-made hot sauce.

106 S. Union St., Alexandria; 571-970-3669.

New Orleans transplant David Guas sandwiches creamy cheese between buttered Texas toast, ensuring a cold center—“like a well-cooked steak.”

1515 N. Courthouse Rd., Arlington; 703-243-2410.

Georgia-native chef Jim Jeffords’s sweet-and-sour fritters substitute Peppadew peppers for pimientos.

2000 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria; 703-549-5051.

Photographs by Jeff Elkins.

This article appears in the September 2012 issue of The Washingtonian.

Pimiento cheese is no longer just a zesty, creamy spread. Here’s how chefs are playing with the Southern snack—and where you can still find it the old-fashioned way.