Montgomery County Restaurants

1. California Tortilla

Friendly, quick service helps make this counter-service restaurant—which describes itself as "darned spunky"—a local favorite. The blackened chicken Caesar burrito is one of the top three sellers in the joint. Add spice to your meal with a dash or two from 75 hot sauces lined up on the wall, and grab a seat inside or out. On Monday nights, spin the Mystery Prize Burrito Wheel for discounts and freebies. Patrons can also subscribe to the restaurant's "Taco Talk" newsletter, which is read worldwide.

2. California Tortilla

3. Mrs. K's Toll House

In one of the last tollhouses in Montgomery County, Mrs. K's has welcomed diners since 1930 and continues to please both those in search of comfort food and those with adventurous palates. Designed to resemble a country inn, the restaurant is filled with antique furniture, "Historic Old Blue" Staffordshire plates, and Nicholas Lutz glass. Try the New Zealand lamb chops, marinated in juniper berries, garlic, and rosemary. Both the menu and the decorations change seasonally. The restaurant serves a popular brunch on Sunday.

4. Old Angler's Inn

The inn, where Civil War soldiers from the North and South found respite and Teddy Roosevelt stopped after hunting and fishing, was restored in 1957 when it began its foray into fine dining. It was then updated in 2008. Diners like the cozy fireplace and menu favorites like the Maryland crab cake appetizer with sesame seaweed salad. Everything is made fresh seasonally—the inn even makes its own ice cream and sorbet. For a more laid-back vibe, head to the beer garden for hot dogs and shrimp kabobs with live music (in good weather).

5. Tastee Diner

The Tastees are part of the culinary past in the Washington area, with a handful still left in Silver Spring, Laurel, and Bethesda, the flagship location. These 24-hour diners are sentimental favorites among many area residents, who value them for their hand-formed hamburgers, the tastiness of which is subjective. Students and others on low budgets (or little sleep) ignore the dust and relish the coffee, which flows endlessly. Breakfast is served around the clock.