Fast Gourmet

listen manager/​owner if you read this. I went to your place twice within four days at lunch time. one day you were completely out of hotdogs and empanadas. the other day you had no fish tacos or empandas. What kind of an eatery are you running that you run out of your main dishes not once but twice. I would have sent the guys to the grocery store across the street to buy more hot dogs and sent someone to the empanda factory where you buy them to get more. I can not figure out why you would be out of major food items early in the day. One day I was there at noon, the other at around 2. If you were a $ 3 – 4 joint that would be one thing but your hot dogs are $ 8! You need to have better inventory control.

Food is good and they even have fresh ice tea most of the time. The staff is friendly and service good. Cool venue in a gas station.

Generally LOVE this place… but they took my phone order and when I arrived I was informed that they ran out of shrimp??? So ²⁄₃ of my order was now incomplete. Finding a replacement for die hard shrimp wrap lovers is tough. There are no printed menus either so I had to look the menu up online to give my family waiting in the car other options.
Overall, a poor experience but the food is good — when you can get it.

I ordered off the beaten path and got an empanada and a side order of coconut rice. It took about five minutes for the empanada to fry, but still a pretty quick meal from the spot.
I would definitely recommend the empanada –it was really, really crispy, and the shredded beef and cheese inside were melted together and super savory. It was a steal at $ 3.
The order of coconut rice was good, and just have been 2 or 3 cups, but it wasn’t the most flavorful I’ve had an at 4.5 was not as good a deal.
This place is does a very good job of delivering high quality food fast. I’ll make it a regular stop whenever I’m near the U St area.

Went all the way from Fairfax to have some chivito and it was totally worth it deft will be coming back: D

Gosh — I am just not a fan of this place despite having eaten here three times. Maybe I am just getting old, but I don’t appreciate:
(1) the loud loud music blasting away and turning my mind into mush
(2) the way my clothes smell after I exit the place (they smell like I work there for hours)
(3) the way they nickel and dime you on stuff (substitutions cost extra, cheese on a burger extra, bacon extra, everything extra).
(4) the fact that they don’t always get instructions right (like when I say grilled onions on the side, that doesn’t mean near-​raw onions inside, and raw onions on the side).
Things I did like: the fries were crispy and good and their eggplant fries were delicious. Last time I was there, I wanted just those eggplant fries, but they said they had none, so I just turned around and walked right out. I’m not sure I’ll be going back.

Eat here!
I too was skeptical of eating at a gas station. But it’s delicious! Really is gourmet sandwiches, not just a poor use of the label.
You can buy beer across the street and bring it in. Soccer games are usually on tv and tables can fill up. (Ps — the bathroom is totally unexpectedly nice!)

The food and service is great! It’s open late night so if you have a late night out, it’s a great place to go. But I would definitely go there next time for dinner. I ordered the burger and it was juicy and tasty. It comes with fries. I would definitely go back!

Read in Unilocal about Fast Gourmet earlier this year and was impressed… but after reading the review from SOFIA T. a young lady of Cuban descent from MIAMI who wrote a glowing review of her cuban sandwich, a sandwich I was extremely curious to try, I was HOOKED.
The only thing that had prevented an earlier try was the location and parking which could have been a problem… but having a friend who lived in the NoMa area of DC, I knew I had this problem solved, so on Aug. 23, a Sunday afternoon, we ventured there… My plan was to pick her up, call in my order and hope my timing was right for a quick pick up…
Well, my plan worked to a T… I was told my order, which was 2 Cuban sandwiches, would be ready in 10 minutes. When we arrived at the location, I could see where parking is probably ALWAYS a problem. I laugh when I read other reviews where people complain about waiting for their CARRY OUT order, when all you have to do is take someone with you to pick it up.
My friend went in to pick up the sandwiches which were $ 8.50 each… We ventured to the Hains Point area, one of my favorites, overlooking the WHARF construction because of the view, water and passing boats.
I would advise anyone venturing there from Fast Gourmet to use 13^th st. as their travel route. This was a Sunday at about 4:05pm. Having grown up in DC but a Va. long time resident, I am familiar with 13^th st. It is quick in getting you to the downtown area if you are coming from an area in upper northwest… Don’t be fooled by other streets like 14^th or 16^th st for traveling southward…
ONce arriving at a spot, I was pleased to see our orders in styrofoam type containers… Our orders were still warm after about a 15minute or so drive. My companion made the comment of how her pork was cooked perfectly, juicy and tender… I was impressed by the amount of meat and cheese in the sandwich, thick is putting it mildly. The bread was wonderful, toasted, buttered but not overly to make the sandwich soggy and the cheese put the cherry on top of our orders… Our fries were still lukewarm and good… I had brought along a baggy with mixed salt and pepper, anticipating the fries were not salted and I was correct…
My ONLY gripe is that the sandwiches were not seasoned at all… but for that purpose if you need any, is to just lift a slice of that bread and season it yourself and that also prevents any over seasoning by the establishment… many of us have ordered sandwiches like steak and cheese and the mayo is exorbitant which takes away from the sandwich…
Next time I will try the steak and cheese and a closer eating destination to enjoy the heat even more… Don’t quibble on price… a steak or Cuban sandwich around this price WILL NOT contain the amount of meat I’m sure you get on one from Gourmet… ENJOY AND THANKS SOFIA T. and Unilocal

A Unilocaler’s dream type of place. Literally a gas station convenience store with a fully stocked, stainless steel open kitchen in the back with a changing chalkboard menu of hilariously serious content. Cuban sandwich seems to be a static offering and never ceases to amaze. Perfectly prepared in a monster portion. Dining is either takeaway or for eating in at one for perhaps 10 tables placed directly in the middle of the convenience store. People come in and out to pay for gas and lotto tickets while you chow down on 5-​star food.

Any hesitation you have about eating at a gas station unsurprisingly disappears when you’re intoxicated. Especially when your cousin who has been living in Paris for the past few years (Shout out to Pouya Y.
) bypasses all the other options and insists that this is THE place to go.
To its credit, Fast Gourmet looks more like a sub shop than a gas station. The menu and eating space rivals many fast food options, (which I would not categorize Fast Gourmet as, because hey, it’s gourmet) as does its cleanliness.
But here is where Mandana has to be honest. I was drunk and I didn’t pay or order for myself (again shout out to Pouya Y). So while I can’t speak to what kind of value you’re getting at Fast Gourmet, or options, I can speak to the Chivito sandwich. It’s what they’re known for — and for good reason. It hit every single spot a sandwich could and was so filling that I couldn’t finish half of it. Fast forward 10 hours and it tasted just as satisfying while it nursed my hangover.
So I’m going back for sure, sober and ready to try more of the menu. I’ll keep ya’ll posted.

I really wanted to like my sandwich but I just couldn’t :/​I tried the meatball marinara sub and they were very stingy on the sauce and the meatballs didn’t have much flavor. Maybe because I took it to go (I live about two miles away) that really affected the taste? Next time I’ll try dining in and update my review if anything changes!
Note-​the fries were good!

All the reviews say Excellent Drunk Food, Great Late Night Bite in this unassuming gas station restaurant — well guess what?! I came here for dinner on a weeknight and it’s just as good as everyone says!
Between two friends and I, we got the Chicken Salad, Cuban, and Steak n’ Cheese sandwich, all with a side of shoestring fries. Each sandwich came with its own unique bread and size. The Chicken Salad sandwich has layers of lettuce as thick as the chicken salad portion so it wins on the healthy edge ;) The Cuban is a flat (hot) sandwich (with pork, ham, Swiss, mustard, pickles), while the Steak is a fat (hot) sandwich (with beef roast, onions, mushrooms, red peppers, fontina, lettuce, tomato, green olive mayo). No one was disappointed.
Here is a more comprehensive menu since the menu board at the restaurant doesn’t really list out what is in each item:
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Delicious little hidden deli that’s perfect for late night cravings.
Fast gourmet is a deli inside a gas station on 14^th street. Don’t let appearances fool you, this place is slow cooking pork to make amazing, restaurant quality sandwiches!
My money is on their Cuban. Made with a succulent slow cooked pork that I think had a touch root beer in the marinade, some salty ham, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickle slices. The sandwich is comforting enough, but they also through in some matchstick fries for an extra indulgence.
A solid choice if you’re looking for greasy, albeit well-​made drunk food fix.
UPDATE: I got the Chivito!
It’s a glorious greasy mess! The bacon, egg and ham combined with beef tenderloin, olives and mozz is like breakfast meets dinner! The beef was the most forgettable part but didn’t hurt. The bread is super light and fluffy. There was too much mayo, but the olives cut through the oil. Overall it’s delicious, but truly a sandwich to be consumed while inebriated.
Cheers!

I’ve probably walked near and/​or by this place more times than I can count and never knew it existed. Leave it to one of my foodie friends to introduce me to this gem — perfect for late night bites.
Tucked inside a gas station. Yes, I along with the other Unilocalers typed that correctly — a gas station. Once inside, you completely forget the place’s main function.
Our group of 4 got there just after 2am on an early Sun morning. Music was blasting and the line was reminiscent of a restroom line during halftime at a sporting event. There was definitely a fun vibe even at that bewitching hour.
There are multiple menu items to choose from. You place your order, give your name and wait to (hopefully) hear your name called over the loud music.
I got the Cuban sandwich which was muy bueno. The only downside is that it came with shoestring fries and I hate shoestring fries. Luckily the sandwich was so good that after a couple of bites it didn’t matter. I wish I could say/​review what my 3 friends ordered but my sandwich was good I almost forgot they were even with me.
Sooooo, get the Cuban and fill up on pump 2. You’ll be happy.

I LOVE Fast Gourmet! Delicious sandwiches.
Truly a hidden gem when you consider that it is located in a gas station (say what?!? — I know — that is what I first thought). However, once you take your first bite of your order, this gas station eatery is WORTH IT!
My go to is the Cubano sandwich! Been here multiple times and it is the only sandwich I have ordered.

It’s in a gas station but is one of DCs best sandwich shops. I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve come here and yet I keep getting the same thing. Get the roast beef sandwich. The meat is very tender and it is not a messy sandwich but will definitely fill you up. Plate comes with a large side of skinny fries and the price is pretty decent. Just gotta get past that you’re eating in a gas station.
Only negative about this place is the music. Not the type of music they play but the volume. Its blasting!

3.5
Conceptually, this place is a lot of fun– it is a deli hidden inside of a corner gas station. They offer a wide variety of menu items for the drunken crowd and open late for night owls.
Friends raved and raved about this place and their infamous sandwich, The Chivito. This sandwich, my friends, is overrated.
The Chivito has tenderloin, mozzarella, black forest ham, bacon, green olives, hard boiled eggs, lettuce, tomato, onions all sandwiched between a soft roll. It. Was. Good. Was it worth the $ 13 price tag for the sandwich combo? No. It was not. No thanks.
We also ordered the Cubano sandwich which I thought was much, much better tasting. It was also significantly cheaper.
Destination spot? Don’t come here. Local? Sure.

3 ½*
The mushroom panini here is quite good and very flavorful. Service was very friendly and quick for takeout. Wish they had more vegetarian options!
*while waiting for my food I did see a rat scurry by. I’m surprised I didn’t run out screaming… it was disturbing to see though*

On one fine Saturday early afternoon, my friend and I set out to find a casual brunch place in the Dupont area. Impossible, you say?! Without a reservation, you gasp?! I bid you not! Fast Gourmet immediately popped up in both of our minds (though granted it’s not really considered in Dupont anymore but a 10 minute walk from my house is fine with me), as it had been on our restaurant bucket list for quite a while, so we briskly walked on over and grabbed the last 2-​person table in the establishment.
FOOD:
Chivito: I had to order this because it’s all the rave and I like ordering the house specialties when I try new places. However, I gotta say I went against my instincts here because I’m not really much of a steak person. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love the occasional celebratory filet mignon at a nice and fancy dinner that I’m not paying for, but for meats, I usually prefer duck, pork, or chicken. When I took my first bite on the corner of the sandwich, it was just a normal steak sandwich. I noticed the varying layers of the sandwich — mushrooms, slices of hard boiled eggs, crisp lettuce, tomato, cheese, and piles of steak. I thought I’d be disappointed in the sandwich because it didn’t taste out of the ordinary. BUT WAIT, I took a few more bites and finally made my way into the middle of the sandwich, where my mouth donned on the holiest of holy sauces.
Then I realized what all the fuss is about. The separate ingredients are not that impressive, but when combined with the sauce, it is a party in your mouth. I wish they had made sure the sauce was all over the sandwich, but it was a fun surprise to come across when I devoured the juicy middle of the sandwich.
Fries: The fries that came on the side of the Chivito were amazing. My favorite kind of fries — super thin and crispy, not a hint of oil or greasiness, seasoned to perfection — amazing.
I am really dying to try their beer battered eggplant side here.
AMBIANCE:
They had two TVs, a bunch of small tables and bar tables. It was clean and seemed like any normal restaurant/​diner establishment, except for the fact that you’re in a gas station. But for reals, it does not feel like a gas station. Never do you get whiffs of gas as patrons come in through the front door. They sell the usual gas station stuff (slim jims, and such) behind a counter that is closed off with glass so while you’re dining in you barely even notice that portion. All in all, it’s nothing too special, but it gets the job done.
CONCLUSION:
I will be back my friends, and you should come with me.

De los mejores sándwiches de Washington! Es fácil que el lugar pase desapercibido al estar ubicado en una gasolinera pero sin duda vale la pena. Espectacular el chivito!