Among the city's signature restaurants is
Ben's Chili Bowl, located on
U Street since its founding in 1958. The restaurant rose to prominence as a peaceful escape during the violent
1968 race riots in the city. Famous for its
chili dogs and half-smokes, it has been visited by numerous presidents and celebrities over the years. The
Georgetown Cupcake bakery became famous through its appearance on the reality T.V. show
DC Cupcakes. Another culinary hotspot is
Union Market in
Northeast D.C., a former farmer's market and wholesale that now houses a large, gourmet
food hall.