Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, kicked off on Sunday, December 14, and rolls right through to sunset on Monday, December 22. Eating tasty foods based in oil, like potato latkes, sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and challah is a yearly tradition alongside lighting a menorah and exchanging gifts for eight consecutive nights.
At these area restaurants and bakeries, Hanukkah celebrants can find dine-in dishes and other treats, plus takeout and delivery options too.
Silver and Sons BBQ blends American barbecue with Jewish holiday classics for Hanukkah. Options include spicy lamb and beef meatballs, smoked brisket in tomato stew, and classic potato latkes with apple butter and lemon whipped yogurt. Desserts include soufganiyot brioche doughnuts, chocolate babka loaves, and rugelach. The next pickup is Friday, December 19, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at its new home base (5362 Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland); commissary kitchen (627 Loftstrand Lane, Rockville, Maryland); or Lost Generation Brewery (327 S. Street NE).
Latkes feature bacon, egg, and cheese at Buffalo & Bergen. Buffalo & Bergen
Gina Chersevani’s New York-style soda counter celebrates “8 Days of Latkes” during the duration of Hanukkah. A trio of latkes, any style, are $8. That includes Fancy Pants (pickled onion, sour cream, caviar, and chive); Everything But the Bagel (scallion cream cheese, pastrami lox, capers, dill, everything seasoning); a Reuben variety; street latkes featurings chili con queso, lime crema, and salsa (with brisket for $9 more); loaded ones with cheddar, bacon, sour cream, and chive; a Southern style with pimento cheese; and of course, traditional with sour cream and apple sauce. Order online from Capitol Hill, Union Market, or Cleveland Park. Multiple locations
Famed Van Ness James Beard award-winning bakery by baker Mark Furstenberg offers Hanukkah delights starting Tuesday, December 16. A la carte orders include latkes, babka, and raspberry sufganiyot, all available starting December 16, plus challah starting Friday, December 19 ($12.50 to $28). 4434 Connecticut Avenue NW
The DMV-wide deli offers a 12-count latke platter ($33) with apple jam and sour cream, as well as CYM’s take on sufganiyot, filled with raspberry-guava jam and dusted with snow sugar in 6- or 12-count portions ($23, $42). Or opt for a smoked salmon and latke platter with all the fixin’s for $72. Order for takeout or delivery here. Multiple locations
The modern Israeli standby offers Hanukkah specials like sumac-crusted salmon roasted on a cedar plank and braised brisket with harissa and pickled onion, plus an array of latkes: classic with sour cream and apple sauce or ones with lamb, roasted eggplant, or smoked salmon and za’atar cream cheese. A creative sufganiyot cocktail features vodka, raspberry liqueur, leavened syrup, and lemon. 3311 Connecticut Avenue NW
The Capitol Hill breakfast spot offers mini sufganiyot filled with house-made strawberry jam (three for $9). The holiday treat is available from Monday, December 15 to Friday, December 19. 517 8th Street SE
This cute kosher bakery by the Smithsonian Zoo is offering Hanukkah treats like Menorah jumbo pops ($3.40) and a Chanukah cake pop gift box. They also have festive black-and-white Menorah cookie (topped with vanilla icing on one side and rich chocolate on the other) for $6.85. There’s also wooden challah boards, menorahs, and dreidels. 3000 Connecticut Avenue NW
Shaw’s playful dive offers Manischewitz, sufgani-shots (jelly doughnuts in shot form, “for health”), and of course, latkes, complete with gallon jugs of “school cafeteria” apple sauce and Daisy’s sour cream. Swing by every night for a lighting ceremony around 7 p.m. now through Sunday, December 21. This year, proceeds from kosher wine sales go to D.C. nonprofit Bread for the City. A new “Shotnorah” on hand answers the call to a wintertime shotski. 1537 7th Street NW