Best Dishes D.C. Editors Ate This Week: August 25 | Eater DC

"I already know that talented Ethiopian chef Elias Taddesse’s remixed takes on fast-food favorites are great, from beefy burgers (Melange) to berbere-spiced fried chicken (Doro Soul Food), and I couldn’t wait to try both of his popular takeout menus under one roof. Shaw’s new sit-down restaurant Melange Foods breathes new life into the old Roy Boys space, complete with for-sale paintings from local artists and a yellow wall splashed with punny slogans like “YOUHADMEATDOROWAT.” Sitting at a high-top seat near the breezy patio bar, I devoured a three-piece portion of his famed tenders alongside spins on American sides. A circular skillet of doro wat-flavored mac and cheese gets a fabulous crunch from injera bread crumbs, and coleslaw jazzed up with turmeric mayo came in a bigger portion than I expected. I ended up taking my butter aioli-slathered burger home, and I’ll have to come back to try Taddesse’s new takes on tacos (Moya)." - Eater Staff