Canales Delicatessen

I’ve been getting the pulled chicken barbecue chicken sandwich religiously from them since I moved to DC almost six years ago and it’s as awesome now as it was then. Their tamales are also very good and they are quick to take and prepare your order.

I bought two Cajun chicken breasts and they seemed to be huge and looked
Good. The chicken was so rubbery and fibrous I had to spit it out of my mouth. $ 10 down the drain. I’m
Sure they have good sandwiches, etc but their Cajun chicken breasts are terrible and inedible

They have Comeaux boudin-​pork, alligator, and… I forget the third. They also have tasso. Hear that people from Louisiana? BOUDIN. Just go. Had I not gorged myself at Cava Mezze, I would have gotten a sandwich. The tamales are awesome (I got beef and cheese/​poblano and the service is fast and friendly.

I’m sad not too many people know about this place… Canales sandwiches are TO DIE for in Eastern Market, seriously. And it won’t hurt the wallet — each sandwich is about $ 5 – 7, prepared fresh, and right in front of you. They’re also pretty freakin’ huge. Think of it this way: it’s the same price (if not a little cheaper) than a old, stale, crappy Subway sub.
Highly recommend the cuban and cajun sandwiches… you won’t regret the $ 5.50 (Btw, credit cards accepted!)

Excellent quality cured meats. I particularly appreciate the attention to detail. I am a prosciutto/​jamon fanatic and I have yet to find a place better qualified to cut the meat paper thin.

Went to Eastern Market for the first time having lived in the DC area for over 20 years yea I know just pitiful, and there was a flea market with additional vendors outside the market an added bonus of course I spent more money than what I had anticipated but oh well. My destination was Canales for the roasted chicken and market poultry for some turkey. I must say that Canales provided the BEST Customer Service I have not tried all of my goodies I bought from there but I will be a repeat customer. The other vendor Market Poultry did not acklowledge my existence I stood there for 7 mins one employee just kept looking at me but continued to have a conversation with another customer. I just walked away clearly I was not worthy of me spending my money there. I continued on outside and bought some organic brown eggs from Sunnyside Farms and a brushed silver Necklace from the Turkish Jeweler you can let one bad encounter spoil the rest of your shopping experience.

There’s not really a whole lot that I can say about this place that I haven’t already said to people in person. They also run my favorite Mexidorean place across the street (Tortilla Café). The things that they are able to put together and feed you is truly amazing and cheap. The pork and the chicken BBQ sandwiches (with cole slaw, of course) are what got me hooked on the place. Add chips and a sandwich and it’s under $ 6. Where else are you going to get that in the city. and it taste good. and fill you up? The rotisserie chicken is nothing other than awesome, and add a side and it’s under $ 7 for a half of a bird. I mean, come on.

At least twice a week I find myself here for lunch. Typically I go for the chicken salad sandwich but they do offer other good choices. The pre-​made burritos are pretty good and so are the tamales. There’s a $ 10 min. for credit cards so bring cash. A sandwich with chips and a can of pop is about $ 6. Definitely one of the best lunch deals on Capitol Hill.

I love Canales, but do wish they would display prices. Their jalepeno sauce and salsa are a constant in our fridge and their tamales are a fast, great dinner and the tamale itself is higher quality than any of the tamales found in Cap Hill restaurants in my opinion.
Chicken salad is also great, and the premarinated skirt steak for fajita’s is great after a quick grill session… if a bit too salty.
They don’t take AM/​EX unfortunately.

Not so secret lunch deal! Get a sandwich of the day, soda and chips for $ 5.50. Their cuban sandwich, btw, is friggin tasty (but does not come with chips and soda for that price). Note that it doesn’t keep well and can get soggy by late afternoon (I ate one half at lunch and wanted the other half for an afternoon snack). I especially like their chicken salad sandwich and their rotisserie chicken. And the ladies behind the counter are super nice.
They also have a wide selection of salads by the pound: normal salads to go (eg. chef’s), pasta and meat salads (think pulled pork, bbq pulled chicken, bbq pulled turkey, curry chicken, chicken salad, etc).
ETHNIC FOOD HIDDEN GEMS
Good spot for finding Cajun meats. Scott F has a good description (pork boudin sausage! great for grilling and much more strongly flavored than what you would expect). Solid andouille sausage sold here (super smoky, pepper). If you’re making any gumbo, jambalaya or etouffe, get your andouille here to spice it up! Also note their premarinated carne asada meat, fresh tortillas, salsa, guacamole, and jalapeño sauce to-​go. Don’t forget to pick up an empanada too!
Watch out though, since they barely label prices on anything like other reviewers have noted. This place, like the rest of the market, is about finding the unique specialties, not looking at the price tag.
LOCATION
Next to Fine Sweet shop, across from the Korean produce section in the South Hall.

I want to like this place. I really do. Unfortunately, the quality and freshness of the food are just not up to par. Today I ordered the prosciutto panini ($ 6.50). I received a soggy sandwich sealed in plastic, apparently prepackaged. The prosciutto was gray and had an iridescent shine like cheap luncheon meat… or an oily driveway after a rainstorm. I’m giving two stars rather than one because the people who work there are nice.

As a cajun expat, it’s often frustating trying to find authentic Cajun food items in the DC area… but not at Canales. His cajun style meats (tasso, boudin, & andouille) are great tasting and take me back to south louisiana. Ask for the pork Boudin (label says Lafayette, LA) and try it on the grill, you won’t regret it. Boudin can also make great stuffing… just squeeze it out of the casing and stuff your hen. They may also carry crawfish Boudin but I was never a fan of this… the crawfish end up over cooked, imho. Other gems… the andouille sausage and smoked Tasso… these are a must for most cajun dishes b/​c they add tremendous flavor. I’ll give them 5 stars when I see stuffed ponces (calf stomach).

Good for hard to find, high quality meats, they have one of my favorite cuts, flat iron steak. They also occasionally have rabbit, which is a crucial ingredient in my hubby’s showstopping paella recipe (making sure he has a signature entertaining dish that he likes to show off with when we have people over has been one of the turning points in our married life! It leaves me free to do all of the «neurotic» things before people show up, like clean the bathroom!) I haven’t paid too much attention to the prices because we usually only go there for last minute things that are non-​negotiable, or for things we can’t find anywhere else.
Enjoy!

This business has now been relocated to the temporary deli space next to Eastern Market.
While I think their products are good, they’re too expensive and deceptive about their pricing. They jacked up the prices on some of their sausage to $ 9 a pound but stopped marking the prices, which can lead to an unpleasant surprise at check-​out if you’re used to the old rate. When you could have saved money by going to whole foods, something’s not right, but it’s even worse that they have to be shady about it. Shame on you, Canales.

*** No longer in Eastern Market, since the building was destroyed by fire.