DCity Smokehouse

When your favorite things get better, that’s something to celebrate. Like when you add ice cream to cake or put chili on your half-smoke. And that’s how we feel about DCity Smokehouse’s Anacostia location.

The fast casual spot sticks to what it’s good at: incredible smoked meat. The menu is exactly the same, but the brisket, ribs, wings, and half-smokes they’re serving up are even more tender and juicy than the Bloomingdale originals. And the fries, brussels sprouts, and potato salad all have a little extra crunch to them.

Order at the counter before finding a table.photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

More than anything, DCity Smokehouse is a welcome addition to the growing Anacostia dining scene—a Black-owned business serving folks high quality food in a historically Black part of town. 

This DCity Smokehouse is tiny—which makes us sad because between the ‘90s and ‘00s jams and the down-to-earth staff who will belly laugh with you when it’s slow, we would spend whole days here if we could. So if you can find an empty high-top table or a counter seat overlooking Good Hope Road, stay a while. Which also gives you access to endless homemade barbecue sauce and rolls of brown paper towels to clean up said sauce as it drips onto your hands, face, and shirt.

The best seats in the house.photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

There's a small patio along Good Hope Road for nice days.photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

Most people, though, stick around just long enough to leave with bags full of pulled pork, rib tips, collard greens, and hush puppies that will surely need to be eaten with an elastic waistband—or no pants at all.

Like younger siblings and athletes coming out of retirement, a second edition doesn’t often live up to the original. But DCity Smokehouse in Anacostia gives us everything the Bloomingdale spot gives, with a little extra flavor, in the food and in the location.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

Brisket

The smoke ring on this bad boy is the kind that the barbecuer in your life will go on about for days, so the smoky flavor is deep and on point. And if that’s not your thing, you can happily stuff your face with this juicy, tender beef and nod along like you care.

photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

DCity Half Smoke

This sausage is thick and topped with brisket, chili, red onions, and mustard, making it the BBQ version of DC’s most famous dish we didn’t know we needed.

photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

Spiced Fries

We mentioned that this location is better than the original. And the fries are one place where that is particularly true. They’re greasy and crunchy, much like a good carryout fry, but topped with a semi-sweet spice mix that we love.

photo credit: Nina Palazzolo

Brussels Sprouts

These crispy sprouts are halves and doused in the same sugary spiced seasoning as the fries, and are just as good.

Potato Salad

The creamy, well-seasoned potato salad is full of chunks of crunchy onion and peppers. While we missed the dash of paprika, we loved that it was firm and chewy.