In my opinion, San Francisco is an amazing city for food. California in general is drool worthy with all its amazing chefs! So, being a native San Franciscan, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to food. I will be honest though, Washington DC has some AMAZING food! After 4 years of living here, I have found some totally awesome hole-in-the-wall restaurants and food trucks around DC. Poppin' in to visit the Capitol? These places you CANNOT miss.

1. Breakfast Chicken Biscuit at Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

Yes, Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken has wonderful doughnuts and they are gorgeous to look at (they're famous for their Cherry Blossom and Creme Brûlée doughnuts pictures below). But don't be fooled! Their best item by far is their Fried Chicken Honey breakfast sandwich. Before you turn your nose up at it, just listen! A hot flaky melt-in-your-mouth cheddar biscuit, warm melted honey butter soaking into the bread, a perfectly sized piece of crunchy fried chicken with a splash of hot sauce. Seriously, it's the closest thing to heaven I've come across, IN THE WORLD (also, you can get the sandwich ON A DOUGHNUT if you don't want the biscuit)! If I was on death row I would ask for this sandwich. Make sure you eat it when it's hot! And the doughnuts ARE delicious too, so make sure you #TreatYoSelf because why not? You're gonna die from happiness from eating this sandwich. They have a few chairs and tables outside, but it is a TINY restaurant. Not a single place to sit inside. So this is a great place for a quick breakfast! It's down by the National Mall which is nice, grab a sandwich, doughnut, or both and eat as you take a stroll.

2. Pop Tart at Ted's Bulletin

If you're looking for a sit-down breakfast, check out Ted's Bulletin! Here you'll find the good ole traditional American breakfast, BOMB sandwiches at lunch, and ADULT MILKSHAKES. You heard me right, alcoholic deliciously creamy milkshakes (side note: that was my first legal drink when I turned 21). While we all love drinking at brunch, you can't really have an adult milkshake for breakfast. So why am I recommending Ted's? Their homemade pop-tarts are amazing. Flaky, buttery homemade "Ted Tarts" filled with delicious flavors that change with the seasons! They're adorable AND delicious (LIKE ME! *cue barfing*). Whether you want a sit down breakfast and a Ted Tart for dessert, or you want to grab Ted Tarts at the bakery and hit the road, Ted Tarts are for everyone!

3. Takorean at Union Market

Union Market is my favorite Sunday activity in all of DC! It's an indoor market that has over 20 different food stalls. It's delicious and I could browse around there for hoooours. Avocado toast, acai bowls, fish & chips, empanadas, and so much more. But the REAL star is Takorean. Takorean is so unique because it's a delicious combination of Korean flavors with a Mexican twist all made from scratch. Their bulgogi tacos and pickled cabbage slaw are phenomenal and I cry of happiness every time I think of them. Pop in and try a bunch of different foods from different stalls! Just make sure Takorean is at the top of your list.

4. Ramen at Toki Underground

I'm gonna be honest, I never tried Ramen before in my life until December. It never looked that appealing to me. Toki changed my mind completely! It's a cool hole-in-the-wall with some of the best Ramen around (Matt, the boyfriend, loooooves Ramen and has tried almost every place in DC and he agrees with me). If you go, you gotta order the Pork Steam Buns as appetizers! If you prefer traditional Ramen, definitely order the Toki Classic. But if you're like me and you love curry and some spice, order the Taipei Currey Chicken. Curry infusion, fried chicken, greens, soft egg, and pickled ginger! No matter what you get, you HAVE to order extra pork belly. Trust me, IT'S LIFE CHANGING! If you're vegetarian . . . well my deepest condolences.

5. Short Ribs at Hill Country Barbecue

If you're lookin' for a taste of Texas, look no further than Hill Country Barbecue down on 7th street. Their website sums it up perfectly:

"Hill Country honors the barbecue and live music capital of Texas and takes its “cue” from the legendary meat-markets-turned- barbecue-joints of Central Texas with their distinctive, dry-rub style."

Live music, Texas beers, and meat on meat on meat on meat! Once again, vegetarians I apologize but holy crap this place is SO much fun WITH great kick-ass food. You order meat by the weight, not the entree which is super cool and authentic! Make sure to order the short ribs and the mac n cheese as a side, you'll be dreamin' about them for days to come (LOOK AT ALL THAT MEAT WE GOT!).

6. Leonardo Dog Vinci at Swizzlers

Any food truck fans out there? Then look no further than Swizzlers! Swizzlers is such a unique and fun concept that I fell in love with them 4 years ago and my love only grows stronger each year. It's a food truck started by a few guys while their in college that took the American hot dog and added a cool twist to it! They replaced mystery meat with 100% grass-fed beef and gave traditional toppings a much-needed makeover. Gourmet hot dogs with funny names like "Feast Mode" (whipped herb G.O.A.T. cheese, caramelized onions, candied jalapeños, black pepper honey on brioche bun), "Abe Froman" (cucumber-herb relish, fried bread & butter pickles, sweet onion, grape tomatoes, sir k's yellow mustard on a pretzel bun, lower right photo), and (my personal favorite) "Leonardo Dog Vinci" (fresh mozz, house pesto, grape tomatoes, balsamic glaze on a pretzel bun, lower left photo). Don't knock it till you try it! When Swizzler comes near my apartment I move my schedule around to make sure I always get one. Plus, their parmesan truffle fries are truly euphoric (pictured below).

7. Gnocchi at Osteria Morini

I searched high and low for the best Italian food in DC. After living in Rome for six months and exploring more than 8 different cities in Italy, I got the hang of what authentic Italian food tasted like. So after trying almost every pasta place that had rave reviews, I finally found the needle in the haystack. Osteria Mornini that's by the Navy Yard metro stop! They have this one dish called Cappelleti that made me almost fall out of my chair. It's a pasta dish with truffled ricotta ravioli, melted butter, and prosciutto. I know it sounds simple, but that's how you know they did Italian food right! With a few ingredients they created an unbelievably tasty dish, the way the Italians always do. So get your tush down there, get yourself some wine, and enjoy some of the best Italian food DC has to offer :D

8. Cupcakes at Baked & Wired

Filled yourself up with any of those recommendations above? Lookin' for something sweet? Wander over to Baked & Wired in Georgetown for the best cupcakes in DC. Yes, the best cupcakes in DC, and I do mean better than Georgetown Cupcakes. For those of you that aren't familiar with Georgetown Cupcakes, they have been on TLC for a couple years and have their own show called DC Cupcakes. Skip the line that wraps around the corner of Georgetown Cupcakes, it's a complete tourist trap. Walk 2-3 blocks further and stroll towards the waterfront when you'll pass Baked & Wired. They're a family owned bakeshop that make massive cupcakes (they call them "cakecups") that are incredibly moist with frosting that makes my heart burst. If you trek to Georgetown for dessert, skip the tourist trap and hit up Baked & Wired. ANYONE who's a DMV resident knows Baked & Wired always trumps DC Cupcakes. Personal favorites: the Tessita ( Vanilla Cake with dulce de leche filling and chocolate-hazelnut satin icing - lower left photo), the Elvis Impersonator (Banana cupcake topped with peanut butter frosting and drizzled with chocolate - lower middle photo), and the Unicorn & Rainbo (Vanilla cake with heart confetti mixed into the batter and topped with cream cheese icing - lower right photo). Also, if you're looking for more of a tart taste, try the Razmanian Devil (Lemon cake filled with raspberry jam and topped with a swirl of lemon buttercream).

9. Ice Cream at Milk Bar Bakery

Hot day? Looking for something sweet that's closer to the National Mall? Hit up Milk in the DC City Center. Milk Bar is an award winning bakery from chef & owner Christina Tosi. Make sure to get the soft serve or a milkshake! They're HUGE, delicious, and super instagram-able. Don't buy it just for the photo though, buy it for its deliciousness! CORNFLAKE CRUNCHIES FOR LIFE!!!!!!