Tucked away in a disadvantaged area of Washington, DC, near the Maryland border. Bird's KitchenNamed after one half of the aunt-nephew duo, Tomeaki and Donzelle McEachinopened a custom-made takeout specialty store in November 2022.
“Auntie Bird,” as a family member nicknamed Tomeaki, was the go-to person for family and close friends when it came to delicious food. Naturally, they called her home “Bird's Kitchen,” and she always had a meal prepared for anyone who stopped by.
To make ends meet during the pandemic, Tomeaki sold plates and eventually sold them at her family's neighborhood barbershop, Campbell & Co. Hair Studio. They sold out within minutes. Donzel made it her mission to turn her aunt's side hustle into a business. John and Tybias Campbelloffered up a vacant space around the corner and sold it to the pair in May 2021.
Stepping into Bird's Kitchen's foyer, you'll feel as warmly welcomed as if you were in Tomeaki's own home: a digital menu hangs above the ordering window, a cooler stocked with drinks and desserts is nearby, and adorable, colorful artwork was custom-made by a close friend of the family.
“The goal with the menu is to keep it as simple as possible without cutting corners that would affect the quality of the food,” Donzel says. Think wings, burgers, salads and fries. And simplicity means the food is reasonably priced: the most expensive menu item is $18.
The Saucy Wings are a top choice. Six wings are lightly breaded, seasoned, and deep-fried until crispy. They're tossed in Aunt Bird's signature sweet and peppery sauce for a sticky, finger-licking treat. The sauce tastes like sweet barbecue sauce, minus the brown sugar and smokiness. The recipe wasn't shared, but it rivals DC's beloved Mambo sauce. The wings are served with ranch dressing, but I chose to leave it alone.
I was surprised to learn that another popular menu item was a turkey burger called “The Thanksgiving.” A 6-ounce patty is grilled on a flattop and topped with grilled onions, bell peppers, and pepper jack cheese. Once the cheese is melted, the chef adds a dollop of homemade cranberry sauce and serves it on a toasted brioche bun. I've never really had a good turkey burger; they're usually overcooked and underseasoned. But I tried this burger and was pleasantly surprised. Auntie Bird's turkey burger had me hooked. The combination of tangy cranberry sauce, juicy burger, and melted cheese had me groaning a little.
If you're looking for a burger that will make you want to snooze afterwards, the 2/4 Burger is the way to go. Donzel says people don't just order it for its size. It features two 6-ounce beef patties topped with grilled mushrooms and onions, Swiss cheese, and A1 steak sauce. Mushrooms and onions are my favorite burger toppings, so I loved it from the first bite. It's big, but you can't pass up this $13 double decker. Personally, I would have liked it with double the amount of mushrooms and onions.
For seafood lovers, Bird's Kitchen also offers a 6-ounce unstuffed crab cake sandwich. The “just as is” large crab cake is lightly breaded and deep-fried until crispy on the outside. The only downside to this sandwich is that it comes with no toppings: no lettuce, tomato, remoulade or aioli. I love sauce on my crab cakes, but this one was delicious without the sauce. The crab cake was crisp on the outside and moist inside.
If you're in a hurry or want a cold meal, you can order 8-ounce servings of tuna macaroni salad and curried chicken salad (the latter of which you can eat by the bowl) from Bird's Kitchen. There are also a few desserts, all made in-house, including banana pudding, strawberry shortcake, and cherry cheesecake.
Tomeaki and Donzelle understand that they opened a restaurant in a remote part of town. They admit they were skeptical at first and considered looking for a location in a more developed area. But they also wanted to grow with the community and be part of the change. “It's been a long journey, but we're excited for what's to come,” Tomeaki says. “There have been good and bad times, but we're here. We're here to stay and look forward to a bigger and brighter future.”
Bird's Kitchen is located at 5013 H St. SE. It's open Sundays from 11am to 5pm and Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11am to 7pm. Delivery is available through UberEats, Grubhub and DoorDash. Prices range from $5 to $18.
Takeaway rating:
package: Sandwiches are wrapped in insulated foil, and other menu items are delivered in microwave- and dishwasher-safe containers.
Does it move without any issues? Food will stay warm for about 30 minutes before needing to be reheated.
Is the food delicious? This is a cheat meal that doesn't feel heavy or oily, even when fried.
leftovers: Great reheated in an air fryer or toaster oven.
