Where Now
ASIAN FEASTS T
HE NATION’S CAPITAL IS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY. NO SURPRISE, THEN, THAT FOOD LOVERS FIND A WORLD OF FLAVORS RIGHT HERE. THESE DAYS, HIP ASIAN EATERIES ARE ALL THE RAGE. HERE ARE A FEW MAKING WAVES.
BOMBAY STREET FOOD
HANUMANH The owners of lauded Thip Khao and Northern Virginia’s Padaek bring their skill with Laotian flavors to this bar-forward concept, which also highlights another D.C. trend—tiki drinks. Barmini alum Al Thompson’s concoctions pair well with the funky flavors in dishes like naem khao kob, a crispy rice and herb salad, and khao jee, an egg dish refreshed with
milk bread and crispy chicken skin. 1604 7th St. NW, no phone, www.hanumanh.com
LAOS IN TOWN This newbie in NoMa claims the real thing in its team (a chef and owner with deep roots in Thai/Essan cuisine and extensive on-the-ground research, plus staff from Laos). The result? Plenty of hits on the menu. Diners have raved about everything from the pork sausage fragrant with lemongrass to the seen hang, a tender, flavor-filled beef jerky, and the grilled whole fish. The modern indoor/outdoor space filled with finds from Vientiane add to the appeal, especially as the sun dips down into golden hour. All that’s missing is the mighty Mekong. 250 K St. NW, 202.864.6620, www. laosintown.com
LAOS IN TOWN
12
W HERETRAVELER ® WASHI NGTON D.C.
SEPTEMBER 2019
©REY LOPEZ
Punchy colors, festive music and a lively Capitol Hill crowd make the second outpost of Asad Sheikh’s Columbia Heights original one of the city’s brightest new stars. On the menu, find Sheikh’s hometown street food favorites like vada pav, a.k.a. “Bombay Burger,” a fried potato patty sandwiched between two thick slices of toasted bread and served with an addicting chutney. Other favorites?
The crowd-pleasing thali, a combo plate that also comes in a vegan/veggie version; Bombay palak chat, a pile of crispy spinach drizzled with yogurt and a sweet chutney; lal mirch, a thick curry that doesn’t hold back on the spice. 524 8th St. SE, 202.558.9506 (also in Columbia Heights), www. bombaystreetfood.us
