Washington, D.C., has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to Black culture in America. About a quarter of the city’s population was African American by 1800 — just nine years after the nation’s capital was founded — and by 1830, many of those folks were already free. This trend was well ahead of the curve in most states, and D.C.’s own Emancipation Proclamation preceded the national version proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln by nine months. Between the progressive abolitionist views and plentiful federal work opportunities, it’s no wonder the community’s foundation remains strong to this day, hundreds of years later.

Black churches in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas (or “the DMV”) date back to 1839, with the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church still serving as a house of worship. Intellectual centers like Howard University sprang up in the 1860s, fostering a national learning hub during the heart of the Reconstruction Era. It was here that Martin Luther King, Jr. made his most important speech, immortalized in the monument dedicated to his legacy in 2011. And through it all, Black culture made its impact. From Go Go Music to the “Black Smithsonian” (the National Museum of African American History & Culture), folks can taste it in the air — but not anywhere quite like in the DMV’s best Black-owned restaurants. 

For Black Restaurant Week, it’s more than just about the tasty food hungry patrons will savor. It’s about the hard-won and powerfully preserved traditions that go back even to before some of these dishes ever graced these shores. Then there is the cuisine that evolved from countless creative chefs forging their palates that have become American in their own right. So be sure to sink your teeth into some of the best: Here are 11 to add to your foodie crawl!