Just wanted to add that I had the 1/4 lb crabcake today and it simply isn't worth the price. Mine was small (i had to smash it to make it fit the bun), EXTREMELY salty, looked and tasted slightly dry/reheated, and was barely warm by the time it arrived. And there was no lump whatsoever. For this price, it should be MUCH better. This tasted like something I could get at a carry-out. Disappointing. read more

MLK Deli - 1/4lb crabcake - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I definitely "get" the higher ratings. Unfortunately, after my dental disaster, I just couldn't rate higher! The sandwich was tasty until I chomped down on a SHELL and cracked my tooth!!!!!!!!!!! The wings were yummy and I am happy that I tried them FIRST! However, I could not enjoy them after my tooth fiasco! I didnt care for the coleslaw...at all. I reallllly wanted to have a better experience after reading such rave reviews. C'est la vie!! read more

MLK Deli - I really wish I could've enjoyed the whole sandwich - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had heard about MLK Deli serving up some great sandwiches, so a friend and I came here to check them out for lunch. Their menu includes various sandwiches, salads, wings, and sides, as well as their supposedly housemade drinks (lemonade). I ordered: +the Big Chair Beef Rueben - this was a marble rye bread with beef pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing; this was probably one of the worst reubens I've had; the pastrami wasn't sliced, but little torn bits; there was no listing of coleslaw in the ingredients, but it seems as if it just a huge dollop and a concoction of wet coleslaw mixed with sauerkraut, as the only thing you could taste was the vinegary cabbage I did make my sandwich order into a combo, which comes with a choice of Dirty Potato chips and a canned soda. My friend ordered the Tuna Sandwich, which came nestled between a brioche bun with lettuce and a sliced tomato; she said that the tuna should have been served on the side, as it seemed to not be drained properly and it made the sandwich a soggy mess. She also ordered a strawberry lemonade, which wasn't even chilled properly. There was only one individual making the sandwiches, but he was on his phone the whole entire time, with no mask, and literally just talking over the food - it was kind of gross, in addition to making the whole process so inefficient; we waited for nearly 45+ minutes - pretty ridiculous, because how long does it really take to make a sandwich?! This is strictly a carry-out place, and there are no seats/tables available in- or outside. This place totally blows, and not sure what all the other raving reviews are about; clearly, these people have never experienced a good, true deli. Such a shame. On a side note, there was an individual who checked out her sandwich and was so upset in how 'small' it was, considering she paid 'over $10 for it' - she ended up returning it to get a refund. Limited street parking available. +one of the worst delis +super slow service +limited street parking available read more

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Love this place. The good variety of sandwiches are awesome. Good price. Great staff as well.

We ordered the jive turkey and crab cake sandwich. The turkey they use is watery soft turkey you would find at normal grocery stores, not fresh turkey. The crab cake was advertised as no filler crabcake, but im pretty sure there was filler in there. The bathroom smelled like marijuana inside, maybe their vent system wasnt working. read more

In DC, I was in need of a Mumba sauce fix asap. Thought to come here to grab some sweet chilli Mumbai sauce wings. But quite a few other things caught our interest. It was just 2 of us this run and neither of us tried this place before because we're from NYC. I have heard of it before from popular reviewers, so I knew it was a go. The service was great. Friendly vibes. The place was clean. We ordered 2 sets of wings - the mumba sauce and garlic parm. Both are pretty damned good. Crispy, Saucy, flavorful. I ordered the Big Chair Rueben, and He ordered the Jive Turkey. It was a normal wait time. The sandwiches were both deliciously paired from bread to cheese type to sauce. The bread was top tier. The cold cuts were fresh and not too salty or processed tasting. We were both glad we had the chance to stop in for good eats. It's now on my list for my DC revisit. read more

Club sandwich and crab cake sandwich was delicious and the customer service was excellent as well.

First time trying this spot. I'll definitely be back. Though they are known for sandwhiches, I got the wings and baaabbbyyy I almost crashed my car driving home they were so good. Hb flavor is like a habanero but sweet but definitely spicy (hope that makes sense). Just to get some and change your life ! read more

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MUST TRY! I love seafood. The service was quick. I called in my order before I arrived. I planned to purchase the crab cake, but they were sold out. The salmon cake was the next best option and it did not disappoint! It was super filling very tasty! The bun was also toasted and I loved the sauce on the side. I will be back for the crab cake. Amazing! read more

MLK Deli - Salmon cake sandwich - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Always great food and flavor. Orders always on time. All of the sandwiches are tasty. My favorites are the club and the crab cake sandwiches. read more

Pricey but good wings and crab cake. I would recommend coming during lunch dinner gets sloppy.

The other day while completing a review on Mumbo Sauce, and I randomly walked into this spot, and noticed some thangs. First off the smell of the food cooking awesomely, flared the follicles of my nostrils!! Second off it was benevolently clean!! Even though I wasn't purchasing anything, just ask you a question they were extremely welcoming and considerate. The place, @mlkdeli on 3113 M.L.K Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington D.C. . . . OK let's get to it this spot is a deli so it has deli foods. They have a gourmet turkey sandwich called the "Jive Turkey", a salmon cake sandwich called "Marion Barry", their infamous "Mr. Lukes" fried chicken breast sandwich l, and their "John Wall" ham sandwich. They have salads, wings (with habanero bbq, garlic Parmesan, and Fire sauce flavors), and signature dishes like their crabmeat topped salmon with Brussel sprouts. Look so on her Instagram there chef cook shop special Off menu dishes like seafood fried rice, a delicious looking seafood lasagna, and jerk chicken!! . . . I copped their "Big Chair" Rueben (pictured with beef pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, yah dressing, & marble rye bread $8), their 1/4 pound Crabcake sandwich ( pictured with lettuce, & tomato, on a brioche bun $20), their wings (pictured 5 mumbo wings, & 5 wet lemon pepper wings $12), and lastly their pineapple lemonade juice (pictured $2.50) . STAMP the Rueben...its EVERYTHING a Rueben is supposed to be!! . Their Crab Cake was absolutely DELICIOUS!! No filler...Lump crab meat!! Nuff said!! . The wet lemon pepper...STAMP!! The mumbo sauce wings...STAMP!! This Mumbo is in my top 5 best sauces!! These wings are cooked to perfection!! . . . Excellent customer service, expedient cooking times, clean establishment, decent online menu interaction & rough parking. GO!! That's it. #bigschlimsreviews #blackownedbusiness #rueben #crabcake #mumbosauce #wetlemonpepper #wings #pineapplelemonade #go #thatsits read more

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You have no idea. This food was so flavorful and made with love. It's black owned and doing so well! The crab cake sandwich has no fillers and well seasoned. The hot dog toppings were so tasty, I was in heaven. We went at lunchtime, the food took a bit of time to cook due to all the ppl in line. There are sandwiches, salads, wings, side and fresh juices. The food is made to order y'all! read more

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Love this place and people customer service is very outstanding You have to stop by and check this place out.

This deli has been around for many many many years. While their have been several management companies own the place, the current company is one of the best. The new company had updated the decor and made the place more modern. However, the staff lacks top-level professionalism. I feel they are on a good track, however, some thing needs to be improved. The prices have increased greatly and the quality of many old school items have decreased (including the fried chicken salad and the steak n cheese sandwiches). The cake are amazing! read more

MLK Deli - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My husband I grab lunch from here all the time. You can't beat the massive crab cake sandwich. The jive turkey is also a favorite of ours, but we always get the crab cake. read more

You ever had something so unexpectedly delicious that you decided you had to submit a review!? I just had the most life-changing roast beef sandwich experience from MLK deli. They served it hot on a brioche bun and it just melted in your mouth with flavor. My wife had the crab cake sandwich and she said it was hands down the best crab cake she's ever had. Their seasoning in that thing was something else! We will definitely be back. Even the damn lemonade was good, yall. I can't handle it. This is my new favorite. read more

These crab cakes are to die for! As someone who is constantly disappointed by the dryness and cost of the fancy crab cakes around town, I was genuinely surprised by how moist and tasty these crab cakes were. It's a little messy to eat as a sandwich so I would recommend that you get bread on the side to balance out the authentic crab fish flavor. read more

MLK Deli - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Just ordered a 1/4 on crab cake... BIG MISTAKE!! I'm now waiting for my 1/2 lb crab cake sandwich to be made because I absolutely did NOT get enough the first time!!! I asked for mango habanero sauce on the side (tastes like a spicy honey mustard) and I mh St say-- this is easily the absolute best crab cake I have ever eaten in my entire life. I almost gave up on crab cakes after being disappointed numerous times. Too much filling, too salty, whatever. They need to come to this place and take notes. I don't have any pics of the first sandwich cuz I ate it too fast but I'll be posting the second one here because I think I can control myself long enough t do so.... Black owned business, incredible food, what more can I ask for? I would've loved fries on the side but I'm very happy! I feel like driving 8 hours to DC was all worth it just because of this sandwich!! read more

MLK Deli - 1/2 lb Crab cake - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food always tastes good and the service is good also the ambiance gives you home sweet home vibes. Best crab cake in the city. read more

I haven't visited in a while, but the food is the bomb! Great, too! I used to eat here many years ago, when my daughter attended Ballou High. Not sure who's there now.. read more

MLK Deli is a stand out restaurant in a ward that has fewer options than other wards and it needs to stay forever. MLK Deli is in Congress Heights on a strip with several other businesses (a bodega, liquor store, a laundry mat, and a top rated ice cream shop- Capitol City Creamery). If you aren't looking for it, you can easily walk by it. Don't. Look for the black and white "MLK Deli" lit sign and enter. It's in the basement of a row house and has no tables to sit and enjoy your meal. That's okay. Order a sandwich, chips, and drink and wait for your order in the side room. There are photos of MLK and a beautiful art piece of MLK, Obama, and several other inspiring figures from history. In terms of food, it's actually really good. I ordered a fried chicken sandwich with a soda and it was only $8! The sandwich was bigger than you expected with a grilled bun, a large slice of fried chicken, and mumbo (DC's famed sauce). Don't expect it to be like any other fried chicken sandwich you've had. It's really good and unique! The only complaint is how slow it is (that's why they didn't get a five star rating). The service is friendly, but it took us 40 minutes to get our sandwiches. Delis are meant to have quick service. Speed aside, it's still a great place to visit! read more

Great service!!! I arrived about 8 minutes before they open & the owner let me in personally & had the cook to start on my order. The food was absolutely delicious but what impressed me the most was the awesome customer service from not only the owner but the employees as well read more

Hands down the best crab cake sandwich I've ever had. They give you this delicious garlic buttery roll and serve it with special sauce. The crab cake is flavorful and very rich. The staff was very polite. I will definitely be back. The line was a bit long but once you place your order they serve your food pretty quickly. I think I got my food within 5 minutes after placing my order. I can't wait to try the other items on the menu, but I think the crab cake sandwich will be my fav. read more

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I truly enjoyed my meal from this place. I ordered the 1/2 lb, 1/4 crab cake sandwich and the strawberry lemonade and everything was amazing!! I devoured the 1/2 crab cake and was pretty full, so I saved the 1/4 crab cake for later. It's street parking, so I literally sat around and waited for someone to come out of a store to get their space so I could try these crab cakes, and it was truly worth the wait. The crab cakes here are by far the BEST CRAb CAKES I've had in the DMV AREA....hands down. Big ups to Ty and staff on your accomplishments and many blessings on your journey. I'll be seeing you guys very soon and sending folks your way! #supportblackbusinesses Pros -Very Clean establishment -friendly staff/good vibes -great music while you wait -crab cakes had very little to no filler -crab cakes were very moist and flavorful -the bread was very buttery and warm Cons -parking, but that's DC for you‍ read more

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I am so happy I found this restaurant on yelp. I was very interested in trying it out once I read the reviews. I ABSOLUTELY loved it... When walking in you see photos and painting of historically black features like Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X and Barack Obama. I also love the fact it is BLACK OWNED! It is a small place.. A place where you grab your food and go... When I ordered my food it was a wait... but the wait was expected since they are dropping the food fresh... I suggest you call in first to order your food. They had great customer service... Before getting my food they showed me my order to make sure it was correct. I ordered the chicken box: HB Glaze. The sauce was amazing. It was sweet but had some heat to it but the actually chicken was the best part. The meat literally fell off the bone. I ordered a 6 wing and the size of the wings is very decent. I also order the pineapple lemonade and it was very good. I would definitely come back to MLK DELI if I am in the area... I recommend others to try it out!! read more

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The lemon pepper wings here are so bomb! Great spot to try out if you want a quick bite :)

I was a little shell shock with buying 5 crab cake sandwiches 2 potatoes salads chocolate cakes and strawberry cake my total was $152. I know expensive for a lunch but it was worth every penny. The crab cake sandwich was $25 a piece and it's massive. The picture doesn't do its size justice. The potatoes salad was ok. But maybe it was just ok to me because I am very picky when it comes to that. The cake was delicious. I will most definitely be back. The space is super small. You order pick your food up and out the door. They show you your food before you take it because they want to make sure it's right. I asked for no tomatoes and they accidentally put them on. The guy was very apologetic. I didn't make a fuss about it because nobody was allergic just don't like tomatoes. Once the tomato is off it a great sandwich. If the crab cakes had fillers I couldn't tell because all I saw was lumps of crab m I would've liked to see French fries as a side. read more

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I wish I would've gotten more pictures, but I don't even think the pictures would've been enough. I found this location on Twitter and my friend and I went randomly, and WILL be returning at a later time. Finding their location, easy. There was side street parking provided in front of the store, in addition to some other parking to the right of the store, almost behind it. Their crab cake sandwich, TORCH. Their chicken sandwich, TORCH. I won't even get into the 3+ different types of flavored lemonades that they have.. but just know, I tried their white grape lemonade, and loved it. ONLY downfall, I wish the ordering was more organized. While waiting for our first order, my friend wanted to order the "chef's special" (seafood lasagna) and I'm assuming, the only person who would make it, was on break at the time. The employee at the register told me that he would be back and to return at a specific time. At that time, we returned and the individual was still on break. So we're still craving it... BUT will be returning later. read more

Stopped by before heading back to Norfolk, came in wanting the crab cake. They didn't have it at first so my friends n I ordered a GLIZZY and wings, time goes by and we ask again about the cakes they said they in the oven now!!! BOY I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR THOSE WORDS ONE OF THE BEST CRABCAKES IVE EVER HAD A BIG LUMP AS WELL NEXT TIME IM IN DC ILL BE RETURNING read more

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Excellent everything. I was in DC for a couple of months this past summer and stayed with a friend by Congress Heights in SE who recommended this hidden little gem off MLK, a little past the Popeyes. She recommended specifically for the crab cake which was def a hit. I called the order in and was greeted by a very nice staff member who took my order and advised of the est time my order would be ready. I ordered 2 of the 1/2 crab cake sandwiches for us and arrived 5 minutes prior to the given time and my order was actually done. When we got back to my friends spot, it was on. I mean, this is the dictionary definition of a crab cake sandwich. The crab cake had zero fillers, was shaped well for a hearty serving, fried to an excellent golden brown with a great crust and glimmering crab meat. The crab sauce knocked it further out the park. A little pricey but def worth it to me for the quality. They do have other menu items, named as tributes to DC legends such as the Marion Barry salmon cake, "Glizzy" hotdog, John Wall ham sandwich, and even dinner dishes like salmon with crab, wings, and salads/wraps. With the way the crab cakes were executed, I dont doubt the other menu items are good as well but I'll have to try when I return to the area. Oh I also got a lemonade which I believe is homemade but not sure- regardless, it was good and didnt taste syrupy. Ledo's used to be my "go to"when visiting DC/MD but nah this place got it now. Cant wait to go back. read more

This place is delicious! Crab cake sandwich is everything you want in a crab cake sandwich! read more

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1 of the Best crab cakes I have ever tasted jumbo lump on point!! The wait for greatness I understand may take a lil time. Some people complained about the wait but I would rather wait for a quality product instead of some fast trash!! read more

Service is a little slow, but the food is worth the wait! The crab cakes are the best. I have had the chicken salad, MLK Club, Potato Salad, Wings and the Chicken Breast Sandwich with Mumbo Sauce. Everything was good every time read more

MLK Deli - Crab cake - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

You can tell this place takes pride. I had a RoastBeef with melted cheese. Generous serving of beef I read that the crab cake at $14 for 1/4 lb sandwich is a good choice Also a Reuben like sandwich looks tasty. Place is clean and people are nice. Call your order in!! read more

I was torn on what to grt because everything sounds amazing but yelp said the crab cakes were great so I went with that. My fellow yelpers never disappoint me! I got the 1/2 lb crab cake sandwich. I could've done the 1/4 but was feeling extra greedy today. I think it could've used some extra old bay but otherwise it was everything everyone said it would be and more! Their crab cake sandwich now beats out jerrys & crab cake Cafe at the harbor in my opinion. The cons to this place is the wait time & they dont sell fries . It took about 20 minutes for my sandwich and I was hangry at this point. There's also Np seating g area at all. So you stand and wait. Oh & the 1/2 lb cake is $26 ... I almost passed out when he gave me my total. But it was worth it. They offer chips instead of fries. But they should definitely start selling fries. They already have mumbo wings and the Luke sandwich (fried chicken with mumbo sauce) so you NEED the fries with the mumbo sauce on the side! Anyways... Overall great spot, great food. I'll be back to try the other items out on their menu. read more

MLK Deli - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

MLK deli is located in the heart of the city. No, I'm not talking Capitol Hill. Right off of Martin Luther King Jr. ave in SoufEast (yes I said souf instead of South) D.C is this little black owned business. More of a traditional deli, there isn't any seating so you'll have to get your food to go. The neighborhood is filled with so much organic culture. Reminds me of the old D.C (Natives know exactly what I mean) which to me is a great thing. Being my first trip, I wanted to sample a few items on the menu. So, after glancing over the menu for about 45 seconds I decided to try "The glizzy" w/ chili & cheese, a crab cake sandwich (what they're known for), and a cantaloupe lemonade. The total cost was around $25. I got the 1/4 pound crab cake sandwich. They have a 1/2 pound sandwich for $25, but since I got other items I didn't feel the need to get that one. The lemonade was pretty good, not too tart and not too sweet, with just a hint of cantaloupe flavor, and actual cantaloupe pieces in it. The glizzy was cooked on a stovetop, it had a nice bite to it. The bun was toasted on the inside but was nice and soft, and the chili had the acidity of a tomato base, but also had a hint of sweetness to it. Almost reminded me of sloppy joe. The crab cake sandwich blew me away. Much better than I expected. Little to no filler in it, so much flavor and lump crab meat in it. This spot is definitely a diamond in the rough, and I recommend everyone to go try their crab cake sandwich. read more

I loved the crab cake sandwich. I ate it too quickly to take a picture. The strawberry lemonade was SO good. It had a few little strawberry seeds in it, so you know it's handmade. See picture for my reaction to tasting it. read more

MLK Deli - Strawberry Specialty Lemonade - Delis Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Found this spot on Yelp .. I have heard of it before decided to try BOMB .. the customer service was great , food was fresh , good flavor I will be returning read more

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Yea so...I meant to write this review like 5 visits ago. For months I've watched their crab cakes show up on my IG feed and said "damn, that's one hell of a crab cake"!! I knew I would have to try it one day and let me say I wasn't the least bit disappointed. So why the 4 stars? Trust me, the crab cake itself deserves a 4.5; however, I base my reviews on the food, staff, wait time, etc. Feel me? Location - the deli is located on the very busy MLK Jr Avenue in Southeast, DC. I wanna say Soufeast so bad..anyhoo. Parking is limited but if you wait around, someone is always guaranteed to move their car. Either that, or park illegally like I do *shrugs* Inside - the deli is very small inside, but it is clean. I'd say if more than 3 people are in line, it's gonna be sardine city. My suggestion is order your food, then wait outside. I'd like them to invest in a stronger exhaust fan. Every time I leave I smell like a grease pit. Wait time - too damn long! But if you want good food, I guess you have to wait. My suggestion would to call ahead...if you can get them to answer the phone. Food - so I've had the crab cake. 100% 0 filler!! A tad bit heavy on the seasoning but other than that, this sammich won't disappoint. The brioche bun is lightly toasted and that's that. I've also tried their wings. They're just "eh". Their wings must be on steroids because I have never seen a wingette the size of a baby's arm before. Slightly undercooked so no more wings for me. They have 3 flavored lemonade options of strawberry, mango and blueberry. All BOMB!!! Staff - the owner and his staff are awesome. They're friendly young men and rather handsome might I add. Suggestion - please invest in a second fryer. I'm gonna need y'all to add French fries to the menu because I'm tired of eating those chips with my crab cake. But the deli is in walking distance from me, so I'll definitely be back again and again and again!! read more