Late-Night Bites
Where to eat when it's 2 AM and everything else is closed.
Quick Picks
- ✦ Open Latest: Ben's Chili Bowl — the U Street institution serving half-smokes until 4 AM on weekends.
- ✦ Best Late-Night Menu: Daikaya — full ramen menu available until midnight, upstairs izakaya even later.
- ✦ Best Drunk Food: Jumbo Slice — 14th Street's giant pizza slices are a rite of passage.
When the bars start closing and hunger strikes, DC has more options than you’d think. From iconic institutions to hidden late-night menus, here’s where to satisfy those after-midnight cravings.
The Institutions
Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street has been serving chili dogs and half-smokes since 1958. Open until 2 AM weeknights and 4 AM on weekends, it’s the unofficial late-night canteen of Washington.
Jumbo Slice on 14th Street and Adams Morgan serves pizza slices the size of your torso. Is it the best pizza in DC? No. Is it exactly what you need at 2:30 AM? Absolutely.
The Proper Late-Night Menus
Daikaya in Chinatown keeps their ramen counter open until midnight. The spicy miso ramen at 11:45 PM hits different than the Saturday lunch version.
Taco Bamba locations stay open until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. Chef Victor Albisu’s late-night menu includes everything from classic carne asada to the infamous “Bobby Flay” taco.
The Secret Spots
- Afterhours at The Imperial — Korean fried chicken available until 1 AM in Adams Morgan
- Amsterdam Falafelshop — Adams Morgan’s 3 AM falafel window with unlimited toppings
- Open City — Woodley Park diner open 24 hours on weekends with full breakfast served always