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Washington has long benefited from a constant infusion of different cultures, making it a stellar culinary host for visitors and transplants from around the world. But recent years have made the fifth or sixth banana of American haute cuisine into a foodie town in its own right. You can find almost any cuisine here, from Salvadoran to Ethiopian, despite the lack of true ethnic neighborhoods in the city. You can now also sample cooking from some of the country’s hottest new chefs, find already established celebrity chefs who have just made their D.C debuts, and sip craft cocktails on par with some of the world's best.
Although most neighborhoods lack a unified culinary flavor, make no mistake: D.C. is a city of distinctive areas, each with its own style. Chinatown, for example, is known for chic small plates of various origins. You'll find Japanese noodle shops next to Mexican taquerias and Indian bistros. These spots wax and wane on the popularity scale with each passing season; it's worth taking a stroll down the street to see what's new. Downtown, you'll find many of the city's blue-chip law firms and deluxe, expense-account restaurants, as well as stylish lounges, brewpubs, and upscale eateries that have sprung up to serve the crowds that attend games at the Verizon Center.
Wherever you venture forth in the city, there are a few trends worth noting: artisanal cocktails, charcuterie-and-cheese plates, and back-to-basics new American cuisine are in vogue. You'll find tapas-style portions pervasive, whether you're at a Greek, Asian, or American restaurant. High-end restaurants in town also have begun to add bar menus with smaller plates that are much less expensive than their entrées, but created with the same finesse.
Though Italian, French, and fusion spots continue to open at a ferocious pace, Washingtonians are always hungry to try something new, whether it's Chinese smoked lobster, fiery Indian curry, or crunchy and addictive Vietnamese spring rolls.
Fans of Bravo's Top Chef will first visit this brightly colored burgers-and-shakes joint hoping to spy charismatic celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn, but they will return for the comfort-food favorites (and learn it's a family effort). The lines can be long, as it's a favorite lunch spot of congressional aides, but the Mendelsohns’ inventive burgers are worth the wait (there also are creative salads and Southern-fried chicken sandwiches). After placing your order cafeteria-style, grab several of the fresh dipping sauces for the tasty thyme-and-rosemary-seasoned hand-cut skinny fries or Vidalia onion petals. Just as important, leave room for a toasted marshmallow or Milky Way malted shake that's as thick as the ones you remember from childhood.
A slice of Europe in Georgetown, Kafe Leopold has an all-day coffee-and-drinks bar, olive-and-onion tarts, crispy schnitzel paired with arugula, and a decadent assortment of pastries. Tucked away in Cady's Alley, the restaurant sits on a quiet side street with design shops and restaurants. The setting is an architecturally hip dining space, with roll-up window walls and a patio complete with a fountain, perfect for sitting with a glass of Grüner Veltliner and taking in the views.
Skip the chains and head to this beloved local coffee shop and whole-grain bakery offering fresh sourdough creations, whole wheat almond croissants, and seasonal veggie frittatas. Grab a specialty coffee, a yerba-maté or nettle tea, and a 100% whole-wheat chocolate croissant or buckwheat muffin on your way to tour the city. Look out for the afternoon’s pastries, including the wheat-free sorghum brownies.
Yes, it's a chain made most famous in New York City, but if you're craving a burger, you can get your fix at the D.C. Chinatown outpost. Juicy burgers with a special sauce, classic fries (get them with cheese), and tasty shakes make it worth the short wait—especially if you're looking for a delicious, reasonably priced lunch between visits to Downtown attractions. Other D.C. Shake Shacks are in Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Union Station, and Nationals Park.
Here you can garnish your authentic falafel balls with a choice of 21 toppings.
Vegetarians and carnivores alike rejoice at Beefsteak, the vegetable-forward fast-casual restaurant by renowned chef and humanitarian José Andres. Located at the heart of Foggy Bottom, it offers colorful salads, veggie burgers, and hearty bowls. Most items are $10 or less, ideal for a budget meal without sacrificing quality. Items like the Faux Joe burger, made with plant-based protein, spicy chilorio chili sauce, and the katsu bowl with Asian spices are favorites among guests.
Open since 2021, this Ukrainian-owned café serves an eclectic breakfast and brunch menu of pastries, burgers, soups, shakshuka, and more.
This intimate, no-reservations, Sapporo-style ramen shop is one of the city's best bets for the tasty Japanese noodle soup. It offers five excellent types of ramen, with the vegan version a welcome option. The bustling atmosphere is underscored by the loud music. Upstairs is the izakaya, which takes reservations and specializes in Japanese-inspired comfort food like tuna poke, Maryland blue catfish with ginger tartar sauce, and stuffed shishito peppers.
The line out the door at lunchtime is a dead giveaway that D.C.'ers have taken to this fast-casual, Yucatán-style Mexican restaurant that got its start as a food truck in 2009. While you can customize the toppings of your tacos or burritos, ordering them the Mexican way (with cilantro and onion) is a sure bet. Similarly, the breakfast tacos (served all day) never disappoint. And before grabbing your table, make sure you hit up the salsa bar.
Eat tasty pastries and sandwiches with a purpose—the sales of this bakery support veteran and military spouses' entrepreneurship programs. This quaint bakery offers a variety of sweet and savory pastries, sandwiches, and coffee.
A trip to D.C. is not complete without tasting pupusas, the El Salvadoran tortillas filled with chorizo, cheese, and chicharrón. El Rinconcito Cafe, a fixture in Shaw for El Salvadoran and Mexican cuisine, specializes in pupusas and also serves quesadillas, tacos, and enchiladas—all at affordable prices.
With almost 40 years in operation, El Tamarindo, an El Salvadorean and Mexican restaurant, has weathered the neighborhood's many changes. Guests come for their savory pupusas (a thick corn tortilla) with various fillings to satisfy every taste from a vegan to a carnivore. Their late-night menu is popular with the nightlife set, and their lively brunch satisfies those who prefer daytime drinking.
Vegans and carnivores alike will rejoice over HipCityVeg's creative, plant-based, fast-casual menu. The Philadelphia-born company serves a popular vegan cheesesteak, accompanied by sweet potato fries, of course.
A global menu representing the different flavors brought to D.C. by immigrants is the theme behind this casual eatery near the White House. The menu takes you on a virtual trip around the world, serving dishes like West African gumbo bowl and Vietnamese Banh Mi with Caribbean spices. Don't miss out on brunch serving global-inspired creations like shrimp arepas and shakshuka. The restaurant is also a hub for immigrant rights programming, headed by Venezuelan star chef Enrique Limardo, a staunch supporter of the cause.
Known for its boisterous owner and throngs of talkative regulars, this family-owned D.C. institution is tucked into the first floor of an old row house only five blocks from the Capitol. Enjoy favorites like light-and-fluffy waffles served with a solid slice of bacon and an egg. Expect the unexpected in terms of clientele, and don't forget to play by the rules (that is, no substitutions, cash only, and as few questions for the staff as possible).
This casual spot with Persian fare and a focus on high-quality ingredients will steal your heart. Whether you're craving kebabs, falafel, baklava, or gyros, you cannot go wrong (although we do strongly recommend the baklava and the salmon kebabs). The freshly baked pita served with every order is a great touch.
This Parisian-style café is fast and casual yet sophisticated. The puff of its cheese gougeres, the heft of its salty-sweet croque monsieur sandwiches, and the delicate crunch of its almond-flour macaron cookies will leave you craving more. Although there can be lengthy lines, when you compare the prices and quality here to other Downtown lunch options, nothing else comes close.
If you need a break and a quick hit of sugar in between sightseeing, Pitango is a great place to stop for a while, or just pick up a sorbet or gelato on the fly. It would be hard to pick a standout flavor among the stellar rotating cast, but their most popular is Fondante, a rich chocolate. Newer flavors include white nectarine, golden kiwi, and hibiscus blossom. If you're hungry for something more substantial, pick up one of their sandwiches made with Italian meats and cheeses on freshly baked focaccia or a to-go box of their handmade, signature, almond cookies.
If you need to take a break from a museum without straying too far, check out Rice Bar, a fast-casual Korean restaurant located a block away from the Air and Space museum. The restaurant specializes in bibimbap, a Korean rice bowl dish usually topped with savory marinated beef, gochujang (chili pepper paste), and sautéed vegetables. The eatery allows customization of the bowls and offers vegetarian and vegan options like tofu and egg protein choices. Aside from the rice bowls, they offer a wide selection of soups with classic Korean flavors like kimchi, spicy kalbi, and tofu.
The original branch of the popular local barbecue chain now has a dining room, so you can sit and enjoy the baby back ribs and tender smoked chicken. Additional locations can be found in Arlington and Alexandria, as well as inside the Capital One Arena.
This chic, multilevel wine bar has pours aplenty (in both tasting portions and full glasses) along with well-thought-out charcuterie boards piled with prosciutto and fluffy, grill-charred focaccia. There's more-filling fare, too, like braised bone-in oxtail. By day, the crowd skews to congressional staffers and lobbyists cutting deals over thin-crust pizza, but by night, the place becomes a hipster hub in the bar on the second level—think low tables and sofas—while a youngish crowd shares cheese plates and sips wine in the crowded street-level dining room.
One of the newest additions to the trendy brunch scene beloved especially of young professionals in D.C., Tatte in Dupont Circle sits in the triangular point of a building, with windows on both sides—ideal for letting in the right light for the Instagram pictures you'll be inspired to take in this aesthetically pleasing café. From biscuit-and-egg sandwiches to quiche to the North African poached-egg dish, shakshuka, there's something here for every palate.
The imposing exterior belies the spare yet serene two-story space offering breakfast specialties, healthy Japanese and Thai-style entrées that make for great comfort food and desserts. Don't sleep on the homemade cookies! There's a lovely street view from the second level.
Digging into a hefty pile of pancakes from this casual counter in Eastern Market makes for the perfect end to a stroll around the Capitol. Morning favorites include not only pancakes but also shrimp and grits; crab cakes, fried oysters, and fresh fish are popular at lunch. Plan to be in line by noon on Saturday to ensure the availability of every dish, and prepare to pay extra for real maple syrup.
Follow convention and order quickly, eat, and give up your seat for the next customer.
The Royal is both a Michelin-recognized Bib Gourmand restaurant and a well-priced, local favorite for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just for a matcha latte while working on your laptop at the bar. The second concept by owner Paul Carlson is a celebration of his family’s international roots, with a strong emphasis on vegetarian and gluten-free options. Stepping inside is like walking into a Colombian coffee shop or full restaurant, depending on the time of day. In the morning, grab a homemade fried-chicken biscuit with your cold brew; for lunch or dinner, enjoy the famous grilled avocado or a Bird Dog (chicken and poblano sausage). If you’re looking for something stronger than coffee, have a classic Aperol spritz or a house cocktail with fun, unusual Latin flavors.
Bohemian and unpretentious, yet also a D.C. institution of sorts, this coffeehouse–bar serves fancy sandwiches and exotic coffee creations. Comfy chairs and couches fill the big open space, where you can sit for hours sipping a cup of tea—or a martini—while chatting or clacking away at your laptop. Grab an armchair or a seat at a communal table and enjoy an all-day menu. This place really shines in the warm months, when the front windows swing open, and the temperature matches the temperament.
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