Wheaton’s own Irene’s 3 (11300 Georgia) hits the bigtime today with a positive mention in the New York Times’ Frugal Traveler column featuring “cheap, kid-friendly eats in Washington, D.C.” The four and seven-year olds both enjoyed Irene’s pupusas, plantains, and beverages. After tasting the tamale, though, four-year-old Grady said: “it doesn’t sound so good.” Either the kid has synesthesia, or he needs some work on which sense is which. Either way, pretty funny, and great publicity for Irene’s 3 (not to be confused with the much smaller and less boisterous Irene’s Pupusas, around the corner on Georgia, also serving good pupusas) (there is no Irene’s 2). I find I3 too loud sometimes, but the food is authentic and good, and so is the service (knowing some Spanish is helpful but certainly not essential).
The peewee culinary crusaders also try Virginia Vietnamese and DC Ethiopian, Bolivian, and Guatemalan cuisine – and Ben’s Chili Bowl, a category unto itself.
