Delicious DMV Dining: THE LIST'S LIST OF GREAT EATS
Winter Ready? The DMV has officially settled into cozy season. Think rich braises, bubbling cheese, and just-baked desserts. At TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up the can’t-miss bites and experiences to get you through winter deliciously.
Make a night of it, see a show and grab a great pre- or post-theatre meal with our theatre + dining guide (here).
Winter activations are back: igloos, skating rinks, and après-ski vibes all over the DMV (here).
This week's list of The List's favorite beverages, here.
Cozy up fireside - see the best spots, here.
Are you ready for some football? All your Super Bowl needs, met, here.
Looking for love? Valentine's Day do's are here.
So much more cozy, crave-worthy goodness below:
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Georgetown Chocolate Tour: On Saturday, February 7th grab your box and take an indulgent tour of Georgetown small businesses collecting treats along the way. In our newest event to our line up, we place chocolate treats at independent shops to create a unique opportunity to introduce you to amazing local businesses. Get your tickets here.
Steak + Frites = Love Forever: Medium Rare is upping the stakes this Valentine’s Day with a proposal-worthy perk. Couples who get engaged on February 14 at any of Medium Rare’s 9 locations will be entered to win free Steak Frites on their wedding anniversary every year for the rest of their married lives. Yes, forever. Winners receive the restaurant’s iconic prix-fixe Steak Frites dinner at no cost annually, featuring a seared culotte steak topped with the cult-favorite secret sauce, crispy French fries, a fresh side salad, rustic bread, and complimentary second servings of steak and fries. Known for its playful French-inspired vibe, crayon-written orders, flirty cocktail napkins, and cheeky restroom French lessons, Medium Rare offers an effortlessly fun setting for popping the question; Click here for more info.
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 Tuesday, February 10 with Chefs Isabel Coss and Matt Conroy of Pascual; Tuesday, March 10 with G’Albi and Chef Michael Rafidi of Albi, Yellow, and La Shukran; Tuesday, April 7 with Chef Masako Morishita of Perry’s and Chef Matt Adler of Caruso’s Grocery and Cucina Morini; and Thursday, May 7, an AAPI Month celebration with Chef Erik Bruner-Yang of Maketto and Chef Steve Chu of Ekiben; Click here for more info.
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
NEW & NOTEWORTHY:
Laud, That’s Good Shawarma: Laud Shawarma has reopened inside The Common Kitchen, marking a fresh chapter for the Nigerian-style shawarma spot following the closure of Solaire Social last fall. The eatery is currently operating a month-long soft opening, with a grand opening celebration planned for next month. The refreshed menu highlights fan favorites alongside new additions, including signature shawarmas with meat and plant-based options, shawarma cups, oven-baked honey-glazed wings, and sandwich melts. New offerings also include the $25 Laud Bento Box: a single-meat shawarma, jollof rice, honey-glazed wings, and zobo plus the return of the brand’s beloved vegan Agege bread in cube or roll form; laudshawarma.com
90 Years of Giant Food + $450K Donation: In honor of its 90th birthday on February 6, Giant Food is donating $450,000 to the Capital Area Food Bank through the Giant Family Foundation to support the Food Bank’s Family Markets program. The contribution continues a long-standing partnership between the two organizations; over the past eight years, Giant has committed $3.2 million to the program, helping distribute more than 12 million meals to families across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Capital Area Food Bank’s Family Markets provide no-cost, market-style grocery distributions at public and charter schools, ensuring children and their families have access to fresh produce and nutritious pantry staples year-round; giantfood.com
Chef Update: Daniel Harburn at Oyamel: Oyamel is getting a head start on Valentine’s Day with a one-night-only Pre-Valentine’s Day Dinner that also marks the debut of new Head Chef Daniel Harburn. Taking place Monday, February 9, the intimate evening features a four-course tasting menu that nods to Oyamel’s traditional roots while introducing Chef Harburn’s fresh perspective, with each course paired to agave expressions and cocktails from El Tesoro Tequila. Highlights include a trio of mini tostadas, Huachinango con Salsa Xec, Conejo con Salsa Almendrada, and a Buñuelo Mariposa dessert, along with neat pours, custom cocktails, and a take-home gift. The dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. and is priced at $130.00 per person; oyamel.com
Industry Update: Michael Pereira at Taco Bamba: Taco Bamba has named restaurant industry veteran Michael Pereira as Chief Executive Officer, bringing more than 30 years of leadership experience to the chef-driven taqueria as it enters its next phase of growth. Pereira most recently served as COO of Velvet Taco and previously spent 25 years at The Cheesecake Factory, rising to Vice President of Operations. He joins founder and chef Victor Albisu and Taco Bamba’s investment partners at Investors Management Corporation as the 16-location brand continues to expand. Alongside the leadership announcement, Taco Bamba also revealed plans to launch a new mobile app and loyalty program later this spring; tacobamba.com
Going to the Yard (Lunch Alert): Yardbird has officially launched a new Lunch & Light Bites menu, now available at all locations, including Washington, D.C. Offered Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the menu is designed for the midday crowd with lighter, satisfying dishes inspired by Yardbird’s Southern roots. Lunch offerings include Chicken Tortilla Soup, a House Chopped Rotisserie Chicken Salad, Aged Ham & Arugula Flatbread, Chicken Caesar Wraps, jumbo wings and tenders, and signature sandwiches like the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich and Bayou Jerk Salmon Burger—ideal for workday lunches, meetings, or a casual daytime stop; runchickenrun.com
Sometimes Spicy, Sometimes Sweet: Dolcezza is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a lineup of festive flavors launching February 1 at all DMV locations. The menu includes Red Velvet Cake Gelato and Passionfruit Mousse Gelato, plus sweet-and-spicy sips like the Passionfruit Szechuan Matcha and a Passion Matcha Soda. Dolcezza is also offering soft-serve sundaes at the H Street and Hirshhorn locations, including a Red Velvet Sundae with cake bits and cream cheese frosting and a Passionfruit Sundae finished with passionfruit coulis; Click here for more info.
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; Click here for more info.
Raclette Season (Happy Hour Alert): Mikko Nordic Fine Foods is leaning into winter with a cozy, storm-day lineup of Nordic hot drinks, comforting starters, and the return of its beloved Raclette and Buckwheat Blinis, available for a limited time. The Dupont Circle rowhouse café is serving warming cocktails like Spiked Cider with Nordic spiced rum, Spiked Chai with bourbon, Red Glögg with mulled wine and almonds, a classic Hot Toddy, and a Nordic Coffee finished with aquavit, walnut liqueur, and whipped cream. Guests can pair drinks with hearty winter starters, while Raclette and Buckwheat Blinis are back through February only. Daily happy hour runs from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., featuring $4.00 off cocktails, $3.00 off wine, and $2.00 off beer; Click here for more info.
Get In My Belly: 2Fifty Texas BBQ is going all-in on pork belly with a week-long pop-up running Monday, January 26 through Sunday, February 1 at both the Riverdale Park and K Street locations. For Pork Belly Week, regular specials are on pause in favor of daily features, including Hot Honey Pork Belly (Monday & Sunday), Al Pastor Pork Belly (Wednesday), Char Siu Pork Belly (Thursday), Green Spaghetti with Pork Belly (Friday), and Pork Belly Burnt Ends (Saturday); 2fiftybbq.com
Lunch PopUp: Taco Taco: Taco Taco by Cranes is a daytime taqueria pop-up led by Executive Chef Pepe Moncayo that brings the soul of Cranes into a casual, crave-driven lunch format. The lunch menu features tacos, wraps, bowls, and shareable plates designed for speed, flavor, and repeat visits. Sample dishes include maitake mushroom tempura with achiote-pineapple and yuzu kosho crema, crispy chicken karaage with napa cabbage and togarashi crema, garlic shrimp a la plancha with ajo blanco and chili oil, beer-battered fish with citrus slaw, and koji-marinated skirt steak finished with salsa macha and lime. 724 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001; cranes-dc.com
NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:
Spanish Steakhouse: Bully Spanish Steakhouse is now open inside the St. Gregory Hotel, introducing a neighborhood-driven Spanish steakhouse rooted in fire-forward cooking. Live-fire grilling anchors the menu, with beef, pork, and seafood cooked simply and confidently, complemented by classic Spanish dishes such as patatas bravas, jamón and Manchego, fideuà, branzino, and picanha. 2033 M Street NW; bullywdc.com
AYCE Sushi (Brunch Alert): Love, Makotto has debuted an extensive all-you-can-eat brunch buffet that costs $65 per person, excluding beverages. Highlights include the Baked Crab Hand Roll, Tuna Crispy Rice, Miso Salmon, Roasted Strip Loin and Pork Shoulder, Housemade Soba Noodles, three types of Mochi Donuts and the Dear Sushi Ichigo Strawberry. 200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Ste. 150; lovemakoto.com
Yes, Soup for You: Chef Suresh Sundas’ Thukpa (Himalayan-inspired soup) special at Tapori will be available on Mondays in limited quantities. Two soups to choose from: Vegetarian Udon noodles in a soy broth with silken tofu, enoki mushrooms, bok choy, and Napa cabbage ($20) or Duck Meatball Udon noodles in a soy broth with enoki mushrooms, bok choy, and Napa cabbage. 600 H Street NE Suite E; taporidc.com
More Focaccia, Please: Chef Mike Friedman is expanding the reach of Fossette Focacceria, bringing its popular focaccia sandwiches to AP Pizza Shop in Bethesda. Available all day, the new menu features 6 sandwiches: Caprese; Mortazza with mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio crema, and black pepper; Tartufo with prosciutto cotto, stracciatella, arugula, and black truffle honey; Circolo with smoked turkey, fontina, tomato, cabbage, iceberg, and lemon aioli; Italiano with a mix of Genoa salami, finocchiona, soppressata, mortadella, mozzarella, and spicy peppers; and Chicken Parm with a parmesan-sesame chicken cutlet, provolone, basil, and marinara; Click here for more info.
60 Years of Mr Henry’s: A Capitol Hill mainstay since 1966, Mr. Henry’s is celebrating a major milestone in 2026 - its 60th anniversary. To mark 6 decades as one of Washington’s most beloved neighborhood pubs, the historic Victorian spot is rolling out a yearlong celebration featuring monthly, decade-themed festivities beginning in February, each honoring a different era of its history. The anniversary programming ends in a milestone gala in August 2026, inviting generations of Washingtonians to toast the past, present, and future of this enduring local institution; Click here for more info.
Cubano Delicioso at Reagan National: Colada Shop has opened its first-ever airport location at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), bringing its signature Cuban coffee, cocktails, and all-day bites to Terminal 2, C Gates (airside). Open daily from 5:00 a.m. until the last departing flight, the new outpost is designed for everything from early-morning caffeine fixes to pre-flight toasts. The menu features Colada Shop favorites like Café Cubano, cortaditos, Café con Leche, Havana Cold Brew, shareable coladas, housemade sodas, zero-proof cocktails, and a full bar pouring classics such as mojitos, piña coladas, and espresso martinis. Travelers can also expect all-day bites including croquetas, empanadas, yuca fries, platanachos, the Cuban sandwich, plus breakfast staples like churro waffles, pastelitos, and pan de bono; coladashop.com
Tasting Menu Debut: Kayu has a new tasting menu. Kayu’s tasting menu reflects the timeless flavors of the Philippines, reimagined through a modern lens. Each dish is thoughtfully crafted to celebrate depth, diversity, and cultural resonance: Pampagana – buchi with foie gras and chestnut; tuna tartare with calamansi kosho and nori; Cassava; Cake – crabfat xo, lardo, ikura; Kinilaw – hamachi, granny smith apple, coconut; Octopus Pancit – glass noodles, squid ink, piquillo peppers; Aged Squab Kaldereta – breast & leg confit, marble potato, green olives; Kinaskas – mango, chèvre, honey; and Taho – silken tofu, tapioca, kaluga caviar. 1633 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009; kayudc.com
