The U Street staple is much more than a chili joint. It's a part of the city’s civil rights history, helping to feed March on Washington participants and provide shelter after DC's 1968 riots.

WTOP has rounded up over 20 bars and restaurants that have opened so far in 2025, which have caused a stir in the D.C. region’s food scene in one way or another.

The recent headlines were alarming: 44 percent of full-service casual restaurants in DC are likely to close this year. The stat, which was blasted across local and national news last month, came from ...