Polina’s Guidebook
Columbia Heights' eatery gems
My neighborhood, Columbia Heights, is home to many delicious and budget-friendly eating venues, all within walking distance from my apartment building.
Despite DC being a foodie town, Laotian food establishments are not common. Sabydee is one of DC's treasures by being an incredibly delicious, affordable, and cozy little Thai/Laotian café that serves authentic Laotian food. It is very small in size, so anyone looking for a low-key meal away from large crowds are in for a treat.
SABYDEE Thai & Lao Cuisine
3211 Mt Pleasant St NWDespite DC being a foodie town, Laotian food establishments are not common. Sabydee is one of DC's treasures by being an incredibly delicious, affordable, and cozy little Thai/Laotian café that serves authentic Laotian food. It is very small in size, so anyone looking for a low-key meal away from large crowds are in for a treat.
Thip Khao is a very reasonably-priced Laotian restaurant that serves authentic and finger-licking-good Laotian food. This restaurant requires reservations for seating tables, but those who don't mind sitting at the bar can come in at 5 p.m. and sit and eat at the bar, if places are available.
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Thip Khao Restaurant
3462 14th St NWThip Khao is a very reasonably-priced Laotian restaurant that serves authentic and finger-licking-good Laotian food. This restaurant requires reservations for seating tables, but those who don't mind sitting at the bar can come in at 5 p.m. and sit and eat at the bar, if places are available.
This lively restaurant has very good Tex Mex and Salvadoran food and live entertainment/music. The place is very colorful without being pretentious, the food is yummy, and the music varied, such as Karaoke nights and occasional Mariachi performances.
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Haydee's Restaurant
3102 Mt Pleasant St NWThis lively restaurant has very good Tex Mex and Salvadoran food and live entertainment/music. The place is very colorful without being pretentious, the food is yummy, and the music varied, such as Karaoke nights and occasional Mariachi performances.
Ben's Chili Bowl is truly a defining DC Landmark. Ben's has been open since the '50s, and is famous for having remained open during the turbulent riots of the 60s.
Many celebrities have visited Ben's, such as former President Barack Obama, U2's Bono, Anthony Bourdain, Jimmy Fallon, Bruno Mars, and many others. Ben's has a cozy retro 50s vide, no doubt a homage to its founding, and many pictures of the visiting celebrities adorn the walls. The food is American/fast food, such as burgers, fries, hot dogs, sandwiches, ilk shakes, and, of course, chili. The food is tasty, savory, and cheap. Ben's is located 1.2 miles away from my apartment building, within the U Street Corridor.
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Ben's Chili Bowl Mural
1213 U St NWBen's Chili Bowl is truly a defining DC Landmark. Ben's has been open since the '50s, and is famous for having remained open during the turbulent riots of the 60s.
Many celebrities have visited Ben's, such as former President Barack Obama, U2's Bono, Anthony Bourdain, Jimmy Fallon, Bruno Mars, and many others. Ben's has a cozy retro 50s vide, no doubt a homage to its founding, and many pictures of the visiting celebrities adorn the walls. The food is American/fast food, such as burgers, fries, hot dogs, sandwiches, ilk shakes, and, of course, chili. The food is tasty, savory, and cheap. Ben's is located 1.2 miles away from my apartment building, within the U Street Corridor.
This little gem has very authentic Vietnamese food, in my opinion, the best Vietnamese establishment in the neighborhood. The Pho soups are very hearty, savory, and flavorful, and to me, better-tasting than the fare at other local Vietnamese places. Whenever I come in, the place is almost packed to capacity, which speaks to how popular and well-liked the food is.
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Pho Viet Restaurant
3513 14th St NWThis little gem has very authentic Vietnamese food, in my opinion, the best Vietnamese establishment in the neighborhood. The Pho soups are very hearty, savory, and flavorful, and to me, better-tasting than the fare at other local Vietnamese places. Whenever I come in, the place is almost packed to capacity, which speaks to how popular and well-liked the food is.
This is a fantabulous fast-food eatery known for its huge selection of milkshakes (80+ flavors!), juicy burgers, and hot dogs & cheesesteaks.
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Z-Burger
3301 14th St NWThis is a fantabulous fast-food eatery known for its huge selection of milkshakes (80+ flavors!), juicy burgers, and hot dogs & cheesesteaks.
To anyone looking for either good southern/soul food or just good food, you'll fall in love with Oohh's & Aahh's. At least I did! This place is an 'off the beaten path' gem of DC food vendors. The food is so rich and flavorful, but not too heavy or greasy, at least for me. I normally am not a huge fan of fried chicken, but the chicken here made me realize that I simply have not had good, properly-done fried chicken before. I would rather eat here than at some over-priced Michelin joint.
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Oohh's & Aahh's
1005 U St NWTo anyone looking for either good southern/soul food or just good food, you'll fall in love with Oohh's & Aahh's. At least I did! This place is an 'off the beaten path' gem of DC food vendors. The food is so rich and flavorful, but not too heavy or greasy, at least for me. I normally am not a huge fan of fried chicken, but the chicken here made me realize that I simply have not had good, properly-done fried chicken before. I would rather eat here than at some over-priced Michelin joint.
To do in DC
DC is a treasure trove of fun and interesting things to do and places to see that satisfy different interests and tastes. If a person manages to be bored in DC, he or she is being lazy. Here's a list of my favorite DC haunts.
This is a top-notch art museum, and one of the best museums in the country, in my humble opinion.
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National Portrait Gallery
This is a top-notch art museum, and one of the best museums in the country, in my humble opinion.
The Library of Congress is an intellectual's dream and a testament to the best things about Western Civilization. It offers a lot to satisfy those interested in research, education, history, American and Western heritage, architecture, and art. It's inner décor is absolutely dazzling, and there are a lot of exhibits and tours.
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Biblioteca del Congresso
101 Independence Ave SEThe Library of Congress is an intellectual's dream and a testament to the best things about Western Civilization. It offers a lot to satisfy those interested in research, education, history, American and Western heritage, architecture, and art. It's inner décor is absolutely dazzling, and there are a lot of exhibits and tours.
This is a fantastic, high-end theater that offers a lot of high-quality shows, both paid for and free.
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John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St NWThis is a fantastic, high-end theater that offers a lot of high-quality shows, both paid for and free.
This is a small, fun, music venue that has jazz, bluegrass, rock, and reggae music, and it also serves food and drink.
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Gypsy Sally's
3401 Water St NWThis is a small, fun, music venue that has jazz, bluegrass, rock, and reggae music, and it also serves food and drink.
This Russian restaurant has kitschy Victorian Era-esque Russian décor, really good and cheap vodka shots, decent Russian food, Wednesday Karaoke night, and excellent club music Friday and Saturday nights. Clubbing enthusiasts will definitely enjoy the Russian-American thumpa-thumpa music that plays Fridays and Saturdays, and which usually starts 10-11 p.m. and lasts till 2 a.m.
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Mari Vanna DC Restaurant
1141 Connecticut Ave NWThis Russian restaurant has kitschy Victorian Era-esque Russian décor, really good and cheap vodka shots, decent Russian food, Wednesday Karaoke night, and excellent club music Friday and Saturday nights. Clubbing enthusiasts will definitely enjoy the Russian-American thumpa-thumpa music that plays Fridays and Saturdays, and which usually starts 10-11 p.m. and lasts till 2 a.m.
Nature and outdoor enthusiasts will love Rock Creek Park, a forrest-y enclave in the middle of DC. Those looking to pursue outdoor activities can hike, walk, bike, go horseback riding, play gold or tennis, and enjoy a picnic.
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Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Ln NWNature and outdoor enthusiasts will love Rock Creek Park, a forrest-y enclave in the middle of DC. Those looking to pursue outdoor activities can hike, walk, bike, go horseback riding, play gold or tennis, and enjoy a picnic.
The National Gallery of Art is home to DC's famous and much-beloved Jazz in the Garden. Jazz enthusiasts will adore Jazz in the Garden, which not only has diverse and top-notch Jazz performances from all around the world, but is also FREE!! The music is not limited to pure Jazz, but also has Latin, blues, and funk music. The Jazz shows play during May and summer months Friday evening.
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National Gallery of Art - Sculpture Garden
7th Street NorthwestThe National Gallery of Art is home to DC's famous and much-beloved Jazz in the Garden. Jazz enthusiasts will adore Jazz in the Garden, which not only has diverse and top-notch Jazz performances from all around the world, but is also FREE!! The music is not limited to pure Jazz, but also has Latin, blues, and funk music. The Jazz shows play during May and summer months Friday evening.
I absolutely adore this marker and the fact that it is right next to the pier by the waterfront. The District Wharf is a must for both seafood lovers and those who enjoy strolling on a pier by a waterfront. The Wharf seafood market has an excellent selection of seafood (fish, shrimp, squid, octopus, crab, lobster, crawfish, clams, oysters, scallops, etc.) as well as cooked foods such as soups (gumbo, crab and lobster bisques, etc.) and ceviche (a Latin American seafood salad). During nice weather, I personally enjoy grabbing some seafood and then strolling on the pleasant pier by the Washington Channel.
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Municipal Fish Market at The Wharf
1100 Maine Ave SWI absolutely adore this marker and the fact that it is right next to the pier by the waterfront. The District Wharf is a must for both seafood lovers and those who enjoy strolling on a pier by a waterfront. The Wharf seafood market has an excellent selection of seafood (fish, shrimp, squid, octopus, crab, lobster, crawfish, clams, oysters, scallops, etc.) as well as cooked foods such as soups (gumbo, crab and lobster bisques, etc.) and ceviche (a Latin American seafood salad). During nice weather, I personally enjoy grabbing some seafood and then strolling on the pleasant pier by the Washington Channel.