Sakuramen in Adams Morgan, DC

Confession: I've been on a major Charmed binge lately.

So of course right now I'm on a total "power of three" kick and if there is any power of three manipulating the ramen game in DC, they would be Daikaya, Toki Underground, and Sakuramen (hereafter referred to as "the ramen 3").

While the Charmed Ones are well protected by the Book of Shadows and all the magic of the Halliwell line, the ramen 3 have impossibly long wait times, elbow-to-elbow seating, and the hoards of raving Yelp reviews. Clearly they are doing something right.

Kimchi // 2

Sakuramen's menu offers appetizers such as buns and potstickers as well as pickled side dishes, but what you're really here for is the ramen (and all the toppings of course!) Whether you're in the mood for shoyu, miso, a meat-lover's dream, or vegan Sakuramen has it covered.

Sakuramen // vegetarian kombu broth + menma + corn + green onions + mushrooms // 11

Shoki bowl // chashu + bulgogi + seasoned egg + green onion + sprouts + nori + ninniku dare // 15

Some bowls offer the thick and wavy noodles while others offer thin and straight. Personally I thought that the thick noodles stood up better to my ramen's spicy flavors, but if you want something a bit more mild, thin is the way to go.

Spicy miso // menma + scallions + corn + nori + fireball // 12

Spice levels are totally customizable and I take my spice verrrryyyy seriously. When I told my server that I wanted level 10, he look at me with an "are you sure? this is your time to rethink that decision" warning, making my friends scale down their spice levels. Nonetheless I stuck to my guns got the 10.

Spicy? Yes. For sure. But I loved every single bite of it. Then again, I'm a little insane. The spice is a clean, straight burn rather than the oilier or mala-style spicy flavor I'm used to and I'm glad because the lightness of the soup was still able to shine through!

Compared to Daikaya, Sakuramen's broth is much lighter, less salty, and less oily - undoubtedly the cleanest bowl I've had in a long time. I think next time I'll try a non-spicy version to taste all the complexity of the broth. 

To be honest, I wasn't completely, completely, completely blown away by Sakuramen's food, not enough to wait 45 minutes to an hour for a table at least, but I have to give a quick shoutout to our server Tony. He was attentive, energetic, and made the experience beyond enjoyable. I'm definitely returning again just for the service alone. 

Sakuramen

2441 18th Street NW
 Washington, DC 20009

&pizza in Foggy Bottom, DC

DC has its fair share of fast-casual, chose-your-own-adventure food establishments. From customizable bibimbap bowls at Triple B Fresh, southeast Asian inspired at ShopHouse, Indian creations at Merzi, Mediterranean at Roti, if you can wrap it or toss it together in a bowl, it's probably been covered.

&pizza takes the fast-casual movement a bit further to bring customized pizzas without having to wait for delivery. Instant gratification. It makes everything taste so much better.

I know customizable pizzas are nothing new, but &pizza changes the game up by offering unique, fresh ingredients that creates a taste and texture experience that just can't be matched by delivery. And besides, in typical DC fashion, it has to be one part healthy mixed with two parts hipster, right? 

Start off with a traditional or ancient grain crust and slather on a layer of sauce. The choices are slightly overwhelming but at least there is a bit for everyone. From the more common (read: classic, not boring) red and white sauces to more adventurous finds like red chickpea puree or mushroom truffle, &pizza has got you covered. 

After piling on your (unlimited) cheese and meat toppings, the raw dough goes from a quick conveyer ride that leaves the crust perfectly baked and cheese beautifully oozy, you can add on the finishers to really fancy up the pizza. And besides, having some greens on that pie makes it basically a salad, right?

One of the best things about &pizza is how vegan friendly it is. Not only are there plenty of animal-free toppings to ensure that you'll never miss the meat, they also offer daiya, my vegan cheese of choice and for a lactose-challenge person like yours truly that's really a great thing. 

If all the topping options are too much for you, &pizza does have some pre-made combinations, but if you're anything like me, then you'll just pile everything on. 

Farmer's daughter // spicy tomato + spinach + homemade mozzarella + italian sausage + farm eggs + red pepper chili oil + parmesan 

For about 8 dollars and some change I have enough pizza to feed a small country. Or just myself. &pizza. Go. Take me with you. 

&pizza

1400 K St NW
 Washington, DC 20005

Keren Restaurant & Coffee Shop in Adams Morgan, DC

I'm always down for some good finger food.

Though I almost always default to Ethiopian coffee (a good friend and I just had a coffee origin/preparation debate today), my Eritrean/Ethiopian dining experiences are rather limited. On a good day I may be able to differentiate between a wat and a tibbs, but let's be real - I rarely have many "good" days. 

Keren is a rather small shop located halfway between Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle. It's one of those small little hole-in-the-walls that are easy to pass by, keep your eyes peeled for that discreet sign because it's a place worth paying a visit to!

Veggie combo with enjera // lentil sauce + shiro + cabbage + spinach + potato with carrot + house salad // 10.99 

I would highly recommend any of the combo platters for anyone who is new to Eritrean/Ethiopian cuisine and wants to try a little bit of everything. Served up on a piece of injera (with more injera on a side plate), every bit of food was absolutely delicious, flavorful, and offered a different taste profile. It's a huge portion that could easily feed two (or just take it back home to very grateful roommates).

Ful with tuna // mashed fav beans +  tuna + tomato + red onion + jalapeño + yogurt + olive oil + berber // 6.49 

I don't know of any other places in DC that serves Eritrean  breakfast food, so of course I had to give it a try! Ful medames is a common breakfast food in Egypt, Somalia, Saudia Arabia, Yemen, and of course and Eritrea and Ethiopia. Keren usually serves this with their French bread rolls, but I asked for injera instead. It's hot, lightly seasoned (yet oh so flavorful), just fresh enough from the garnishes, yet delightfully soulful. I could eat this for breakfast more often.

One of the best things about Keren? The price! We were both stuffed to the brim and even had to ask for a to-go box and the bill came to just under $20 for the two of us. Sure, the Uber surge charge on the way home (can the snow stop already? Thanks) made up for any savings but I can't remember the last time I got a sit-down meal in DC for this cheap! I'll definitely be back.

Keren Restaurant & Coffee Shop

1780 Florida Ave NW
 Washington, DC 20009