In honor of Black History Month, The Eagle has put together a small food tour of the various flavors of D.C. According to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education, over 40 percent of D.C. residents are Black/African-American with ethnic roots varying from East Africa, West Africa and the Caribbean.
Black History Month was established to support and honor the contributions African-Americans have made to the United States; culturally, historically and in this case, culinarily. Below are a few places that you may or may not have heard of. Get your fork and knife ready as we start this food tour across the city.
Starting famously on U Street, historically known as “Black Broadway” for its plethora of organizations, businesses and restaurants that showcase Black American’s contributions to the arts and history. Tourist spots like the Lincoln Theatre and the African American Civil War Memorial can be found along the way, showing off the city’s rich roots. This historical street is the food tour’s first stop.
Ben’s Chili Bowl, established on Aug. 22, 1958, is a family establishment founded by Benjamin and Virginia Ali in the heart of Washington, D.C.. As the name suggests, Ben’s Chili Bowl’s menu is filled with everything from chili to hotdogs, burgers and fries. A special feature on the dessert menu is Virginia’s classic banana pudding. Although Ben’s Chili Bowl is a classic D.C. staple for its food, the restaurant also has a long history of supporting the civil rights movement within Washington, D.C..
The official Ben’s Chili Bowl website features a media page with recordings of important moments in the restaurant’s history, such as the establishment’s 65th anniversary, when beloved civil rights activist Jesse Louis Jackson celebrated his 81st birthday with the owners and a small remembrance note for the passing of food blogger and former chef Anthony Bourdain. Over the years, Ben’s Chili Bowl has cultivated an identity rooted in community, culture and collaboration.
Another famous stop on U Street is Oohhs & Aahhs. With over 20 years of southern comfort food experience, this restaurant secures itself as a cultural staple of the DMV culinary scene. With several locations around the area, media features in Washingtonian’s Best, Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and Everything on the Menu, Oohhs & Aahhs is respected as a culinary classic.
While the restaurant’s U Street location is purely for takeout and catering operations, feel free to pull up a chair in the Georgia Avenue location or travel down to Fells Point in Baltimore where they have a special seafood menu for customers. There’s no need to worry about which location you end up staying at because Oohhs & Aahhs is, as they famously say, “Where good food & good people meet!”
Staying on Georgia Ave, locals and natives to the area can find Heat Da Spot Café, which serves popular Ethiopian and American breakfast options, sandwiches and drinks. Those that are new to Ethiopian cuisine can try the Ethiopian Combo Breakfast, which serves the country’s traditional oatmeal scrambled eggs, and Fifir, a type of torn, sourdough flatbread smothered in a spicy, flavorful sauce. For those looking for something sweeter rather than savory, Heat Da Spot also carries American classics such as french toasts, waffles and pancakes. Either way, there’s something for all customers at every price range.
If you’re looking for a two-for-one special, be sure to check out Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe, also located on Georgia Ave. Sankofa originates from Ghana and the country’s adinkra symbols. These symbols represent different Ghanaian philosophical concepts that convey wisdom and spiritual beliefs originating from the Akan people. The namesake of the organization refers to the idea of “going back to our present in order to go forward,” which speaks to cultural reclamation. The coffee shop has an even deeper connection with the name — founders Haile and Shirikiana Gerima produced an internationally, critically claimed film in 1993 under the same name.
Wrapping up the DMV food store is Mahogany Books, a cozy book-retail store at the National Harbor. Mahogany Books is a Black and family-owned, independent bookstore founded by Derrick A. Young, Adrian Young and Ramunda Lark Young in 2007. The owners, in the About Us section of their website, spoke of how they are dedicated to “meet[ing] the literary needs for readers nationwide in search of books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora.”
Mahogany Books has launched over 600 book events all across the DMV area over its history. It also runs the blog Black Books Matter, an online blog that features original content and book recommendations rooted in connecting literary experiences to lived experiences. The blog features book reviews, events, previous interviews and news highlights, as well as curated reading lists across various topics like best-seller lists and most anticipated books of the year. Mahogany Books is dedicated to empowering readers across platforms and state lines to add more Black authors to their bookshelves this Black History Month.
Here are some honorable mentions for business, apparel lines and restaurants to additionally support during Black History Month, and throughout the rest of 2026:
Eatopia Eatery, U Str. Washington, D.C. Bikram Yoga Works, Riverdale, MD
Swahili Village, M Str. Washington, D.C. Curves, by Sean Brown
Jerk at Nite, H Str. Washington, D.C. Kin Apparel, Inc.
The Eagle reached out to managers for each of the businesses and restaurants, but were unable to conduct timely interviews. All information on the businesses and restaurants presented in the article has been gleaned from the organization's website and media pages.
This article was edited by Jessica Ackerman, Sydney Hemmer and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Avery Grossman, Arin Burrell, Paige Caron, Mattie Lupo and Ava Stuzin.
