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These D.C. Diners Are (Really, Truly) Actual Diners

Save the boozy milkshakes and small plates for another day.

byTim Ebner
2comments/new
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Florida Avenue Grill
|R. Lopez
byTim Ebner
2comments/new

The term "diner" gets thrown around a lot in D.C. It's a problem because real diners adhere to somewhat strict standards. First, the food has to be greasy, and the options should be nearly unlimited — usually about eight menu pages or more.

Then, there's the inexpensive price point. Diners are there for the working man, the retiree, the off-duty cop, and the 20-something who can barely afford rent. States like New Jersey and Pennsylvania have figured this out. Their diners are located on busy highways or in city centers and run on a 24-hour cycle.

Here's what a diner certainly is not: diners should not be"flexitarian"(sorry: Silver Diner). They don't serveboozy milkshakes and fancy Pop-Tarts(sorry: Ted's Bulletin). Usually, they also avoid food trends at all costs, as well as things like"small plates"(sorry: The Diner).

Now, back to the basics. A diner is a gathering place for the most important meal of the day —” breakfast — and it's quick, convenient, cheap, and filling. So, in honor of Eater breakfast week, here are the D.C. diners that are truly diners.

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American City Diner

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In upper Northwest, the American City Diner offers blue plate specials and themed movie nights.

5532 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20015
(202) 244-1949
(202) 244-1949
Moises V./Yelp

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Barnside Diner

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Look for the red roof off the Little River Turnpike. Barnside Diner serves diner staples and operates 24/7.

6306 Little River Tpke, Alexandria, VA 22312
(703) 256-3318
(703) 256-3318
Andrew R./Yelp

Bob & Edith's Diner

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After decades of service, Virginians are still staunchly loyal to Bob & Edith’s. Order the 2-2-2 special— homemade biscuits, steak, and eggs.

2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
(703) 920-6103
(703) 920-6103
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City Diner

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City Diner offers breakfast around-the-clock. The portions are huge, and the menu skews Mediterranean for lunch and dinner.

5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041
(703) 671-4108
(703) 671-4108
Peter I./Yelp

College Park Diner

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Another 24/7 spot is College Park Diner. It's a favorite for college students at nearby University of Maryland.

9206 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
(301) 441-8888
(301) 441-8888
Facebook

Deli City

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Don't be fooled by the name. Deli City is actually a diner-esque restaurant with some of the best scrapple in D.C. Also, be sure to pay your respects to Ms. Delores, a life-long employee who helps manage the restaurant.

2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018
(202) 526-1800
(202) 526-1800
Bill E./Yelp

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Florida Avenue Grill

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The Florida Avenue Grill calls itself the "oldest soul food restaurant in the world." It’s also a greasy spoon where it's worth saddling up to the bar. It’s the kind of place where it's customary to order a half-smoke as a side.

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 265-1586
(202) 265-1586
R. Lopez

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Jimmy T's Place

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A favorite for Capitol Hill residents, Jimmy T’s is a cash-only, tightly packed diner that's known primarily for it’s reliable service and low prices.

501 E Capitol St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 546-3646
(202) 546-3646
Warren M./Yelp

Also featured in:

Lincoln's Waffle Shop

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The downtown area is mostly devoid of diners, which is why Lincoln’s Waffle Shop is so essential. It’s located across from Ford’s Theater and is known for dishes like home fries and waffles, of course.

504 10th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 638-4009
(202) 638-4009
Domingo O./Yelp

Also featured in:

Metro 29 Diner

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This Arlington diner has a distinctly New York vibe, but it definitely passes on pretentiousness. Instead you get breakfast all day, plus late-night hours.

4711 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 528-2464
(703) 528-2464
Belauan B./Yelp

Also featured in:

Nick's Diner

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Nick’s Diner is family-owned and operated since it started serving breakfast more than 34 years ago. It has a historic status in Wheaton, and it’s a cash-only spot, open seven-days-a-week for breakfast and lunch.

11199 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902
(301) 933-5459
(301) 933-5459
Bruce K./Yelp

Osman & Joe's Steak 'n Egg Kitchen

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This place doesn't have the look and feel of a classic diner, but it's a Tenleytown institution with cheap, late night dining.

4700 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 686-1201
(202) 686-1201
Dee B./Yelp

Also featured in:

Pete's Diner

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Politicians can’t agree on much, but they do agree Pete’s is the place for breakfast. The diner is a come-as-you-are favorite for Hill staffers. It also makes a mean bulgogi.

212 2nd St SE, Washington, D.C. 20543
(202) 544-7335
(202) 544-7335
Diddy K./Yelp

Also featured in:

Plato's Diner

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Another College Park favorite is Plato’s, a Greek diner that specializes in gyros and Greek omelets.

7150 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
(301) 779-7070
(301) 779-7070
NormaJean C./Yelp

Tastee Diner

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Tastee Diner has two locations in Bethesda and Silver Spring. It’s open 24-hours a day, and each booth comes with its own jukebox. The hotcakes are the main attraction here.

7731 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 652-3970
(301) 652-3970
David H./Yelp

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American City Diner

5532 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20015

In upper Northwest, the American City Diner offers blue plate specials and themed movie nights.

5532 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20015
(202) 244-1949
(202) 244-1949
Moises V./Yelp

Barnside Diner

6306 Little River Tpke, Alexandria, VA 22312

Look for the red roof off the Little River Turnpike. Barnside Diner serves diner staples and operates 24/7.

6306 Little River Tpke, Alexandria, VA 22312
(703) 256-3318
(703) 256-3318
Andrew R./Yelp

Bob & Edith's Diner

2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204

After decades of service, Virginians are still staunchly loyal to Bob & Edith’s. Order the 2-2-2 special— homemade biscuits, steak, and eggs.

2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204
(703) 920-6103
(703) 920-6103
Facebook

City Diner

5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

City Diner offers breakfast around-the-clock. The portions are huge, and the menu skews Mediterranean for lunch and dinner.

5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041
(703) 671-4108
(703) 671-4108
Peter I./Yelp

College Park Diner

9206 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740

Another 24/7 spot is College Park Diner. It's a favorite for college students at nearby University of Maryland.

9206 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
(301) 441-8888
(301) 441-8888
Facebook

Deli City

2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018

Don't be fooled by the name. Deli City is actually a diner-esque restaurant with some of the best scrapple in D.C. Also, be sure to pay your respects to Ms. Delores, a life-long employee who helps manage the restaurant.

2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018
(202) 526-1800
(202) 526-1800
Bill E./Yelp

Florida Avenue Grill

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The Florida Avenue Grill calls itself the "oldest soul food restaurant in the world." It’s also a greasy spoon where it's worth saddling up to the bar. It’s the kind of place where it's customary to order a half-smoke as a side.

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 265-1586
(202) 265-1586
R. Lopez

Jimmy T's Place

501 E Capitol St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

A favorite for Capitol Hill residents, Jimmy T’s is a cash-only, tightly packed diner that's known primarily for it’s reliable service and low prices.

501 E Capitol St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 546-3646
(202) 546-3646
Warren M./Yelp

Lincoln's Waffle Shop

504 10th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

The downtown area is mostly devoid of diners, which is why Lincoln’s Waffle Shop is so essential. It’s located across from Ford’s Theater and is known for dishes like home fries and waffles, of course.

504 10th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 638-4009
(202) 638-4009
Domingo O./Yelp

Metro 29 Diner

4711 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207

This Arlington diner has a distinctly New York vibe, but it definitely passes on pretentiousness. Instead you get breakfast all day, plus late-night hours.

4711 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 528-2464
(703) 528-2464
Belauan B./Yelp

Nick's Diner

11199 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Nick’s Diner is family-owned and operated since it started serving breakfast more than 34 years ago. It has a historic status in Wheaton, and it’s a cash-only spot, open seven-days-a-week for breakfast and lunch.

11199 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902
(301) 933-5459
(301) 933-5459
Bruce K./Yelp

Osman & Joe's Steak 'n Egg Kitchen

4700 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

This place doesn't have the look and feel of a classic diner, but it's a Tenleytown institution with cheap, late night dining.

4700 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 686-1201
(202) 686-1201
Dee B./Yelp

Pete's Diner

212 2nd St SE, Washington, D.C. 20543

Politicians can’t agree on much, but they do agree Pete’s is the place for breakfast. The diner is a come-as-you-are favorite for Hill staffers. It also makes a mean bulgogi.

212 2nd St SE, Washington, D.C. 20543
(202) 544-7335
(202) 544-7335
Diddy K./Yelp

Plato's Diner

7150 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740

Another College Park favorite is Plato’s, a Greek diner that specializes in gyros and Greek omelets.

7150 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
(301) 779-7070
(301) 779-7070
NormaJean C./Yelp

Tastee Diner

7731 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

Tastee Diner has two locations in Bethesda and Silver Spring. It’s open 24-hours a day, and each booth comes with its own jukebox. The hotcakes are the main attraction here.

7731 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 652-3970
(301) 652-3970
David H./Yelp

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