May It Be Yummy! TheList’s List Of Delicious Dishes

Spring Ready? The DMV is officially shaking off winter and stepping into longer days and menus that feel just a little lighter and brighter. Thank Goodness! We are ready for fresh greens, farmers’ market finds, and chefs leaning into the flavors of the season.

Here at TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up the can’t-miss bites and experiences to help you eat your way into spring.

-Make a night of it, see a show and grab a great pre- or post-theatre meal with our theatre + dining guide (here).
-This week's list of The List's favorite beverages,  here.
-Celebrate the season with festivals, pop-ups, and springtime dining events popping up all over the region (here).
-You don’t need an excuse to visit a woman-owned business or celebrate women history month…here’s the list.

So much more fresh, flavor-packed goodness below:

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 

Taqueria Xochi Cinco de Mayo: Taquería Xochi is turning Cinco de Mayo into a full-on, weeklong celebration with events from Friday through Tuesday. Expect themed karaoke, DJ sets, all-day Xochi Hour, and festive décor at both Navy Yard and Arlington locations—plus the debut of the Sinaloa Dog, a bacon-wrapped street-style hot dog, starting May 1; taqueriaxochi.com

Maru San August Reservations Open: Reservations for the August “Maru Experience” open May 1 at 11:30 a.m. via Resy, offering an intimate, Nikkei-style tasting from Chefs Carlos Delgado and Simon Lam. The $115.00 chef’s counter experience features 15+ courses blending Japanese and Peruvian influences, with just 4 seats per night at 7:00 p.m.; marusandc.com

Get Out of Town: Antigua & Barbuda’s annual Culinary Month returns this May with a full lineup of food-focused events, including Restaurant Week, the signature FAB Fest, and exclusive chef collaborations. The month-long celebration highlights Caribbean cuisine and talent, with guest chefs like Nina Compton and Tristen Epps-Long, plus experiences like “Eat Like a Local” and a finale beach party; antiguabarbudaculinarymonth.com

Burnt Hill Farm Chef Counter Experience: The Chef’s Counter at Burnt Hill Farm, led by Chef Tae Strain, debuts this May as an intimate 12-seat tasting experience overlooking the vineyard. Guests can enjoy a 7-9 course menu rooted in Asian American flavors and Mid-Atlantic ingredients, paired with estate wines, with reservations open now and service running Friday through Sunday evenings starting May 1; burnthill.farm

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ: The 5th Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival returns to the Prince William County Fairgrounds on May 2 for a full day of all-you-care-to-taste beer and bourbon, live music, and serious barbecue. Expect whole hog tastings at the “Shrine of Swine,” pitmasters serving up ribs and brisket, and interactive tasting seminars—plus VIP early access for those looking to go all in; nova.beerandbourbon.com

Twenty Years of Mandu: Mandu is marking its 20th anniversary in 2026 with a monthly collaborative dining series celebrating 2 decades in D.C.’s dining scene. The yearlong series brings guest chefs into the kitchen for special tasting menus inspired by Mandu’s Korean roots and the shared language of global cuisines. Scheduled dinners include Thursday, May 7, an AAPI Month celebration with Chef Erik Bruner-Yang of Maketto and Chef Steve Chu of Ekiben; mandudc.com

Moon Valley Strawberry Festival: Moon Valley Farm will host its 2026 Strawberry Festival series on May 9, 16, and 23, featuring the region’s only Certified Organic pick-your-own strawberries. Guests can harvest berries straight from the field while enjoying food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities, with a special early-access day for CSA members on May 9; moonvalleyfarm.net

Blue Duck Tavern Anniversary:  Blue Duck Tavern will toast 20 years in the nation’s capital as one of the city’s most iconic restaurants in June 2026. To honor this monumental occasion, nationally recognized chefs, who formerly spearheaded Blue Duck Tavern, will return to prepare their signature dishes for a special dinner gathering accompanied by merrymaking over 2006 vintages from Blue Duck Tavern's Sommelier selections. The five-course feast will take place on Wednesday, June 10, with a champagne reception and hors d'oeuvres at 6 p.m.; blueducktavern.com

Carla Hall One-Woman Show: Carla Hall is debuting her world premiere solo show, “Please Underestimate Me!”, at the Olney Theatre Center this summer. In the one-woman production, the award-winning chef, author, and TV personality shares a candid, humorous, and deeply personal look at her journey—from her Tennessee roots and Howard University to Paris runways. The DC chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier has reserved a block of seats for 2 performances: Friday, June 26 and Thursday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $72.00, with a portion supporting scholarships and mentorship for women in food and hospitality. A special $92.00 ticket for the June 26 performance includes a post-show meet-and-greet with Carla Hall and light refreshments; buy tickets here.

Family Reunion: Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s acclaimed culinary festival returns August 20–23 at Salamander Middleburg with its 2026 theme, “Folklore: A History of Storytelling.” The multi-day event brings together top chefs, panels, workshops, and immersive dining experiences celebrating Black and Brown contributions to food and culture, with tickets and packages now available; salamanderhotels.com/experience/family-reunion

Yottem Ottolenghi at Sixth & I: Celebrated chef and author Yotam Ottolenghi will appear at Sixth & I on October 8 at 7:00 p.m., discussing his latest cookbook Simple Too. In conversation, Ottolenghi will explore his philosophy of bold, approachable cooking and share recipes designed to make flavorful meals feel effortless; sixthandi.org

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: 

The Last Of Stone Crab Season: Stone crab season is wrapping up, but there’s still time to enjoy this sought-after delicacy at Truluck’s through May 1. Pair it with the new May cocktail, the Lychee Empress—a floral, fruit-forward mix of Empress gin, elderflower, lychee, lemon, and raspberry; trulucks.com

Granchi Dal Guscio Morbido: Tarì Trattoria is welcoming soft shell crab season with limited-time dishes inspired by the Amalfi Coast. Highlights include sautéed soft shell crabs with saffron aioli, cherry tomato salad, and fregola, plus tonnarelli pasta with soft shell crab and a light peperoncino; tari-trattoriadc.com

Jalapeño SMASH: In honor of National Burger Month, DaBo Burger is serving up The Jalapeño Smash—a limited-time burger from Chef Elias Taddesse featuring a jalapeño-smashed patty, pepperjack cheese, charred tomato salsa, and lemon thyme aioli. Available all May at the Bridge District location, it pairs perfectly with Atlas Brew Works beers, including the award-winning Bullpen Pilsner; daboburger.com

Beirut to America (Brunch Alert): NAJA Mediterranean is now serving weekend brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Mosaic District, centered around its standout manoushe—Levantine flatbreads topped with za’atar, cheese, lamb, and more. Expect Mediterranean-inspired egg dishes, wraps, and sweets like fig jam French toast, plus cocktails with a twist like the Apricot Spritz and Za’atar Bloody Mary; najamediterranean.com

Plates of Pasta: The Wine Kitchen has debuted its refreshed spring Pasta Tasting Menu, a multi-course, $57.00 experience highlighting housemade pastas and seasonal ingredients. Dishes include pea ragù garganelli, gnocchi alla gricia with ramps, and a strawberry rhubarb semifreddo—available Tuesday through Sunday with full table participation; thewinekitchen.com

Burgers For Lunch, Dinner & Dessert: Yardbird is celebrating National Burger Month with a limited-time menu featuring creative spins like a Nashville hot chicken burger, a jerk-spiced salmon burger, and a classic BLT-style beef burger—plus a standout “dessert burger” made with butter pecan ice cream sandwiched between chocolate chip cookies. Available through May; runchickenrun.com

Put ‘Em Up: Flight Club DC has rolled out its new spring menu, bringing fresh energy to its Social Darts® experience with shareable plates and vibrant cocktails. Highlights include beef and lamb gyros, BBQ brisket sliders, calamari, and lighter bites like red pepper hummus and corn ribs, alongside cocktails like the Jungle Bird and Durango. Weekend brunch adds to the lineup with dishes like avocado toast, breakfast sliders, and indulgent flatbreads; flightclubdartsusa.com

Beesy Bacon: The Silver & Sons Community Store truck in Bethesda is serving up a new breakfast lineup, including a standout bacon, egg, and cheese made with house-smoked Roseda Farms beef bacon. Served on an English muffin and paired with complimentary coffee, it’s a quick, hearty way to start the day; silverandsonsbbq.com

Sunday Family Dinner: Caruso’s Grocery is launching a new Sunday Family Dinner series, offering a 3-course Italian-American prix-fixe menu for $35.00 per person every Sunday from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Guests can mix and match favorites like garlic bread quattro formaggi, chicken parm, penne vodka, and classic desserts—bringing a cozy, family-style vibe to the table; carusosgrocery.com

Crab & Crush: Crab season starts now with Cowbell’s new “Crab & Crush” nights, featuring prepaid seatings at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. Each reservation includes a 2-hour table and a first round of steamed blue crabs, plus orange crushes, $5.00 Natty Bohs, and the full menu; cowbellseafood.com

Soft Serve Collab: A new limited-time collaboration between José Andrés Foods and Dolcezza offers 2 Spain-inspired soft serve sundaes from now until May 10. Highlights include a Basque Cheesecake Sundae with goat cheese, honey, and black pepper, and an Olive Oil Sundae made with Arbequina EVOO and sea salt. Available at select Dolcezza locations and José Andrés restaurants.; dolcezzagelato.com

Burrito Pop Up: Michelin Bib Gourmand spot Amparo Fondita is hosting a weekday lunch pop-up from Chef Christian Irabién’s upcoming concept El Gabacho, running through August 14. The takeout-focused menu features handmade flour tortilla burritos filled with bold options like chile colorado, pollo chipotle, and chile relleno—offering a fast, flavor-packed preview of what’s to come; amparofondita.com

Ragu for You: Vermilion is hosting a Sunday Night Ragu Family Dinner each week starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a hearty family-style Italian feast for $35.00 per person in the tavern, bar, and lounge. The meal features Chef Anthony Chittum’s slow-cooked ragu with pork spare ribs, braised Angus beef, meatballs, fennel sausage, plum tomatoes, and hand-cut egg noodles. The spread also includes a lacinato kale Caesar, sourdough garlic bread, and apple cider donuts with salted caramel and frozen custard for dessert. Guests can also pair the meal with featured red wines by the bottle selected to complement the Sunday feast; vermilionrestaurant.com

NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:

Along Came a Spider: Located on the 11th floor of The Watermark Hotel, Wren offers a Japanese-inspired dining experience from Executive Chef Yo Matsuzaki. The menu blends Japanese street food with modern American touches, featuring sushi, sashimi, and tableside A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, alongside favorites like the Spider Roll with soft shell crab tempura; wrentysons.com

The Brothers of Peru: Peruvian Brothers opens its first standalone DC restaurant on April 20 at 660 North Capitol Street NW, marking a major milestone for the immigrant-founded brand. Opening day will feature a celebration of Peruvian culture, with complimentary alfajores and bottles of Rocoto hot sauce for the first 100 guests; peruvianbrothers.com

Frosted Sugar Cookie? Yes, Please: Just in time for Mother’s Day, Jeni’s is scooping a limited-time Frosted Sugar Cookie flavor starting April 14. The nostalgic treat blends buttery sugar cookie custard with soft cookie crumbles and swirls of tangy pink cream cheese frosting—an indulgent, shareable dessert made for celebrating; jenis.com

Turkish Delights: ala has officially completed its full renovation and reopened in Dupont Circle, unveiling a bright new space and patio just in time for spring. A 2026 RAMMYs semifinalist, the Levantine restaurant is now serving updated seasonal dishes alongside dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, weekday happy hour, and weekend bottomless brunch; ala-dc.com

Pack a Picnic - Daru: Chef Suresh Sundas is offering a new Mela Picnic Feast designed for easy, shareable dining. Priced at $65.00 and serving 3-4 people, the takeout-only spread includes tandoori chicken, dal, mushroom biryani, pomegranate aloo, assorted breads, and gulab jamun—perfect for an al fresco meal; darudc.com

Top Chef Tasting Menu: Marcus DC has launched its first tasting menu from Executive Chef Anthony Jones, a 5-course experience inspired by his personal story and culinary journey. The menu blends French technique with global influences, featuring dishes that reflect childhood memories, professional milestones, and the restaurant’s modern American perspective; marcusdc.com

Mediterranean Flair on H Street: Tiffany’s Bar & Bistro is rolling out a new spring menu from Chef Mehmet Sukutli, blending Mediterranean flavors with modern twists. Expect shareable mezze like whipped feta and beet labneh, plus standout plates like Adana kebab and duck shawarma. Served at weekend brunch on Saturday–Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) brings dishes like Turkish eggs, pistachio French toast, and indulgent kaitifi hotcakes; tiffanysbistrobar.com

Italian’s Back on NY Ave: Ashok Bajaj of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group has opened Rosselli in downtown DC, bringing refined Italian cuisine to the former Modena space. Helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Cardona, the restaurant pairs classic Italian dishes with a modern fine-dining approach in a newly reimagined, design-forward setting.; rossellidc.com

Supersize Me: Love on the Run launched a Super-Size ramen upgrade! For $7.00, guests can bulk up any bowl with gyoza or mushroom rice, a seasoned egg, and nori—perfect alongside their lineup of housemade ramen like Shio, Miso, and spicy Nagoya Tantanmen; lovemakoto.com

All-Day Counter Service in Georgetown: YELLOW Georgetown is shifting to an all-day counter service model starting April 14, now open Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with no mid-day closure. Expect continuous access to their signature pastries, mezze, pita sandwiches, and coffee; yellowthecafe.com

Bunny Love: From the team behind Tail Up Goat, Rye Bunny has opened in Adams Morgan as a relaxed, counter-service concept from restaurateurs Jill Tyler and Chef Jon Sybert. The seasonal menu reimagines everyday favorites with thoughtful, ingredient-driven twists—think anchovy toasts, wild greens ravioli, and rockfish a la plancha—alongside a curated beverage program led by sommelier Audrey Dowling; ryebunny.com

The Cumberland Valley Coffee & Chocolate Trail Returns: The Cumberland Valley Coffee & Chocolate Trail is back with a nostalgic Friends-inspired theme, running from January 28 through May 11. Using a free digital passport, participants can explore nearly 30 cafés, chocolatiers, and sweet spots throughout the Cumberland Valley, checking in to earn points, prizes, exclusive discounts, and special offers along the way. This year’s trail includes locations such as King & Saint, Denim Coffee, Helena’s Chocolate Café & Creperie, Mummert Chocolates, The Cracked Pot Coffee Shop, and many more. The trail officially kicks off on January 28, with a launch event at King & Saint Café in Shippensburg at 9:00 a.m., where early passport holders can enjoy complimentary coffee and a pastry while supplies last; visitcumberlandvalley.com