Chix in the U Street Corridor

The motto is "eat responsibly," but there's nothing preachy about Chix, the new eco-friendly takeout in the U Street corridor. Yes, 50 percent of the ingredients are organic -- and more, when available. Yes, the walls are painted a bright spring green, and the plates and cutlery are made of biodegradable materials. But the good intentions aren't why people keep coming back. It's the food.

Chix is the brainchild of 30-year-old Lukas Umana, a graduate of American University's Kogod School of Business, whose family owns a restaurant in his native Colombia. For seven years he mulled over the project, and last year he and his eco-minded girlfriend, Victoria Garcia, got it off the ground. With the help of their families -- Garcia's father is a longtime chef -- they opened Nov. 16.

As the name suggests, their specialty is roasted chicken. Three kinds are offered: the signature Chix, seasoned with a "secret blend" of spices; the Peruvian; and our favorite, the Colombian, bathed for 24 hours in coffee and organic coconut milk. Whichever you choose, the result is moist, succulent meat and a vibrant flavor punch that puts most other rotisserie chicken to shame. And that's before you add one of the house-made sauces, such as the spunky roasted red salsa or the mustardy Caribbean curry (whole chicken with three sides and sauce, $20.99; half-chicken with two sides and sauce, $11.29; quarter-chicken with one side and sauce, $8.99).

Sides, too, are worth the trip. The noodles and cheese ($2.49) is a surprising and delicious take on mac and cheese, with a crisp bread crumb top; roasted sweet potatoes ($3.29) are fresh and naturally sweet, so there's no need for extra sugar.

The rest of the offerings are variations on the theme. There are Chix Chop bowls: chopped chicken and vegetables over organic rice done either Cuban style, with black beans ($7.99), or Mexican style, with lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese ($8.49). There are vegetable wraps and chicken wraps for easy eating on the go ($6.49 to $9.29). Also not to be missed are the house-made tea and fruit water of the day ($1.79); the watermelon-peach, for example, was decidedly refreshing.

Great food that makes you feel good about eating it. Now that's sustainable.

-- Jane Black

Chix2019 11th St. NW, 202-234-2449, http://www.chixdc.com. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.