The Jewish calendar, which is based on the sun and moon, brings a meeting of the holidays this year, when the first night of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas Day. The eight-night Festival of Lights, which is celebrated with evening menorah-lighting, games of dreidel and eating foods fried in oil—especially latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), runs though Jan. 2, 2025. If planning your Hanukkah menu has you saying, “Oy vey,” don’t get verklempt. These restaurants and bakeries have all the holiday goodies you need.
Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken
Hanukkah Mini Boxes ($35) are available throughout the month and packed with jelly-filled doughnuts topped with powdered sugar, festive dreidels (spinning tops) and golden coins, or gelt. Available for pre-order only on the restaurant’s website, order by 2 p.m. for next-day pickup. // 4001 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Baked by Yael
Yael Krigman’s nut-free, kosher bakery specializes in bagels, rugelach and other tempting options for the holiday. Get the lawyer-turned-baker’s signature cake pops with Hanukkah-themed decorations ($3.25 each or $47.95 for a gift box). Jumbo menorah-decorated cake pops ($74.40 for a dozen) are also available in vegan or gluten-free options ($80.40 for a dozen). Also on the menu are black-and-white cookies sporting menorah designs ($78 for a dozen) and a gift set containing hot chocolate on a spoon (starting at $23.45). Note that the bakery will open at 8 a.m. on Christmas Day for any bagel or sugar fixes. // 3000 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.
Bethesda Bagels
Don’t let the name fool you: There’s a location of this local chainlet in Rosslyn, so you don’t have to schlep to Maryland. Don’t look at the Hanukkah menu hungry, but, nu, you’ll have leftovers if you order too much. Keep it simple with all-in-one boxes to feed groups of four, six or eight with bagels, cream cheese, matzo ball soup, latkes, cookies and gelt ($110-$220). Or skip straight to dessert with the Fancy Cookie Platter, piled with rugelach, chocolate dreidels and, of course, cookies ($5.99 per person, eight-person minimum). A la carte offerings are available, too. // 1851 N. Moore St., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Brooklyn Bagel Bakery
Open every day of the year, this deli in Courthouse serves potato latkes ($45 for 15) and Grandma Iris’ Sweet Noodle Kugel ($40) to complement your Hanukkah table. Of course, we wouldn’t turn down the catering menu’s boxes of bagels, tubs of cream cheese and salads (whitefish, chicken, tuna and egg) sold by the pound if they showed up next to the menorah. // 2055 Wilson Blvd, Arlington (Courthouse)
Call Your Mother
The self-described “Jew-ish” deli in McLean accepts orders 48 hours in advance and is open every day except Dec. 25. Its Hanukkah/holiday menu has three options. A deluxe latke platter serves four and comes with 12 latkes, half a pound of smoked salmon, sour cream, apple jam, sweet red-pepper jelly, creamy horseradish creme fraiche and pickled veggies ($65). The classic latke platter includes 12 pancakes, sour cream and apple jam ($30). For sweets only, order a box of six or 12 raspberry-guava jelly doughnuts—CYM’s version of sufganiyot ($20 or $35). // 6232 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Celebrity Delly
The catering arm of this New York-style deli and diner right here in Falls Church has an extensive Hanukkah menu, including the requisite latkes ($3.75). Brisket that’s been slow-braised for four hours and sliced thin is available for $26 per pound. That pairs well with a kugel (egg noodles with cottage cheese, cinnamon and sugar) that serves 10 and costs $50. Finish off the meal with a $49.99 cheesecake. // 7263 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church
Chutzpah Deli
Latkes are available year-round at this bustling deli in Fairfax. Find latkes topped with corned beef or pastrami and Swiss, pulled barbecue chicken and cheddar, or brisket and gravy ($24), or get them naked ($8). Bagels, schmears, smoked fish and matzo ball soup are also on the novel-length menu. // 12214 Fairfax Town Center, Fairfax
The Happy Tart
Sweeten the holiday with a box of three gluten- and nut-free cookies decorated with a Star of David, Menorah or Dreidel ($18). Order them in advance here. // 410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
Jake’s Ice Cream
Just because sufganiyot are traditional Hanukkah treats doesn’t mean they have to be eaten in the traditional form. This scoop shop in Barcroft Plaza, which employs people with intellectual disabilities, has an ice cream version of the dessert made with Bonne Maman blackberry preserves swirled into a sweet cream based infused with powedered doughnuts. Another Hanukkah flavor: Olive Oil Citrus, made with Cobram Estate cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, lemon, and orange zest and juice. Get it by the scoop, pint or in a custom cake, cupcake or pie. And watch for Hanukkah-themed cake pops to become available closer to the holiday’s first night. // 6353 Columbia Pike, Falls Church
Mah-Ze-Dahr
This bakery with two New York City locations, plus one in National Landing, knows how to cater a Jewish holiday. Get a tray of Kim’s Potato Latkes ($34 to serve 10 people) with house-made applesauce and sour cream. Bagel platters with cream cheese, smoked salmon, smoked whitefish salad and toppings like tomato, onion, cucumbers and capers are also on the catering menu for pickup, as are deli meat classics such as corned beef and pastrami. // 1550 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Sababa
Across the Potomac in D.C.’s Cleveland Park neighborhood, find a special Hanukkah menu at this restaurant whose name is Hebrew slang for “great” or “cool.” It’s serving latkes with sour cream and applesauce ($14); lamb and harissa ($16); smoked salmon, sumac onion and za’atar cream cheese ($16); or schmaltz-poached salmon ($28). For a sweet finish, try the Star of David poppy seed cookies ($8) and the Sofginayot cocktail ($18), made with vodka, raspberry liquor, leavened syrup and lemon. If your tradition is to eat Chinese food on Christmas Eve, check out the 6th Annual Jew-ish Chinese Christmas Eve, when Sababa will serve wonton matzo ball soup and moo shu brisket. // 3311 Connecticut Ave., Washington, D.C.