Serving Indian street-food favorites
3309 Connecticut Ave. NW (Thinkstock)
Monday nights, chef Yo Matsuzaki serves karaage, or Japanese fried chicken
1155 14th St. NW (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
Serves one of Turkey’s most popular street foods: the simit
1077 Wisconsin Ave. NW (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
Global street foods, including lamb kefta from Lebanon and khachapuri from Georgia
1346 T St. NW (Thinkstock)
Authentic South Indian lentil and rice crepes
Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
A Czech/ Texan classic, served sweet and savory
At Hill Country Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 410 7th St. NW (Courtesy Republic Kolache)
Serves South American-stuffed corn patties
Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE
(Courtesy Arepa Zone)
Korean street food
2431 18th St. NW (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
Sweet and savory crepes
1012 14th St. NW (AP/Matthew Mead)
Serves Turkish kebabs, flat breads and other street food favorites
1320 19th St. NW (WTOP/Rachel Nania)
Choose from Chilean style, Jamaican style and vegetarian options
Three locations, including 2452 18th St. NW (Getty Images)
Greek classics
1612 20th St. NW (Thinkstock) (Getty Images/iStockphoto/rez-art)
Middle Eastern pitas, salads and fries
2425 18th St. NW
(AP Images)
WASHINGTON — On March 15, a couple hundred people crowded under red paper lanterns and alongside platters of kushikatsu at Zentan in Thomas Circle to get a taste of a traditional Osakan festival.
The restaurant’s executive chef, Yo Matsuzaki, teamed up with Nobu Yamazaki of the Michelin-starred Sushi Taro for the event that highlighted a popular part of Japanese culture: street food.
“You’ll see things like takoyaki — that’s a very traditional street food. It’s a savory octopus kind-of puff. And katsu — you put a bunch of ingredients on a skewer and fry it,” Matsuzaki said, describing some of the most common foods served in his hometown of Osaka.
Matsuzaki is one of a handful of D.C. chefs putting street food in the spotlight. James Beard Award-winning chef Vikram Sundaram, of Rasika, recently opened the Cleveland Park restaurant Bindaas to showcase Indian small plates and snacks.
On T Street, Compass Rose features street eats from countries around the globe, including lamb kefta from Lebanon and khachapuri from Georgia, and food stalls and trucks throughout the city are packing big, bold flavors into handheld wraps, pockets and buns.
Matsuzaki, who dedicates Mondays at Zentan to a street-food favorite — karaage, or Japanese fried chicken — says he isn’t surprised that the casual culinary category is having a moment. Street food is approachable and it allows diners to experience exotic flavors in an informal environment — often times without a plate.
“It’s not expensive; it’s not stuck up. It’s relaxed and fun,” Matsuzaki said. “It’s simple food and it’s not too heavy.”
The next time you want to explore a corner of the globe without leaving the city, check out these local spots serving street-food favorites and let your taste buds do the traveling:
