A&J Restaurant

This Northern Chinese dim sum standby has been turning out pan-fried pork dumplings and springy dan-dan noodles on Rockville Pike for three decades; its Annandale sister location followed a few years later. Not many restaurants are this consistent—or such a good value. More must-orders: sesame biscuits and scallion pancakes; garlicky cucumbers; spicy noodle soups; Szechuan-style wontons; and Chinese fried chicken and rice (a winner for picky kids).  

 

All-Purpose  

Crisp-bottomed, deck-oven pizzas are the thing at All-Purpose in Navy Yard and Shaw, which also sends out spiffed-up Italian-American favorites like arancini flecked with broccoli and sided with honey aïoli. Pies are made with long-fermented dough, which means you won’t want to leave any of that savory crust behind. (Get a side of feta ranch with chili oil for dipping.)  At weekend brunch, throw in Italian hash browns and bottomless spritzes, mimosas, and Bellinis.   

*closed through February 28

 

Amparo Fondita

Chefs Christian Irabién and Gladys Guevara have a deep understanding of Mexican cuisine, so it pays to try the deep cuts they present at this all-day Dupont restaurant, such as machucos, fried stuffed plantains from Veracruz, or chile en nogada, a festive stuffed poblano chile with walnut sauce. Plus, Amparo’s set lunch—inspired by the quick multi-course comida corrida of Mexico City—is a good way to break up a monotonous weekday. 

 

Anju

With its exposed-brick-and-wood-beam dining room, this bi-level mod-Korean destination in Adams Morgan still feels trendy and comfortable. Chef Angel Barreto has mastered dishes both understated (rice cakes and vegetables glazed with sweet soy) and over the top (gochujang-fried chicken drizzled with Alabama white barbecue sauce). Don’t skip the intensely flavorful panchan (Korean side dishes), and, at brunch, the shortrib smash burger with candied chilies.

 

Arrels

The mollette—a wondrous pileup of pulled oxtail with pickled vegetables and a sherry glaze—strikes a hearty note on a menu rife with crab, lobster, and oysters at Pepe Moncayo’s mod-Spanish eatery. Not that you should skip more elegant plates—namely, a memorable grilled shrimp bathed in garlic-lemon purée and set over grits; a meaty Ibérico pork chop with pickled-fennel-and-apple salad; and the terrifically textural vermicelli dish known as fideua, served here with Manchego, jamón, and truffle cream. The restaurant is in a hotel, so weekday breakfast starts at 7 AM; on weekends, the all-you-can-eat tapas brunch is $45 per person.

 

Aventino

Mike Friedman, the chef behind the beloved Red Hen in Bloomingdale, oversees this clubby Roman-inspired dining room—easily the best upscale restaurant in Bethesda. The emerald-green bar sends out ace spritzes and Negronis, and the kitchen excels with the snacky stuff that goes so well with them, whether cheesy risotto fritters, honey-kissed ricotta, or a simple tomato flatbread. The centerpiece of the menu is pasta, and we love the lumache all’amatriciana and squash ravioli. During the day, you’ll find a wild card: a fantastic cheeseburger. And on weekends, brunch starts at 10 AM with black-and-white bombolini, lemon/ricotta pancakes, and prosciutto omelets. 

 

Barbouzard

Cedric Maupillier, one of the city’s top French chefs, is back in action at this glitzy downtown ode to the Riviera. (It couldn’t feel farther from his neighborhoody bistro Convivial, which closed a year ago.) We love his cheeky takes on classics, such as already-cheesy gougères served with Comté fondue or a stunner of a deconstructed bouillabaisse. It’s fun to see him play with luxe ingredients like Hokkaido scallops in a creamy, curry-scented sauce. At lunch, the office crowds have discovered that the fast-moving two- and three-course prix fixes are a terrific deal. Weekends bring smoked fish platters, buttery pastries, artful quiches, and mushroom-filled crepes. 

 

Beteseb

There’s a sleek new Technicolor menu at this sunny Ethiopian cafe, but the food remains as soulful as ever. Start by choosing your injera: imported from Ethiopia for extra tang or made locally—both varieties soft and ideal for scooping. Bozena shiro—a bubbling pot of chickpea stew—is especially satisfying, while crispy beef tibs stands out among the classics. Vegetables such as gomen (collards) and atikilt wat (cabbage and potatoes) never disappoint. Come early for breakfast and order the comforting chechesba, pieces of wheat flatbread fried in butter and drizzled with honey. 

 

Brasero Atlántico

This Buenos Aires export, which debuted in a converted Georgetown firehouse in October, is part of a mini-wave of new steakhouses. This isn’t your typical dealmaking dining room: Walk in and the first thing you see is a ring of leaping flames in the open kitchen. Our rib eye emerged from that grill perfectly charred and juicy. Bookend the main event with preserved artichokes in a shower of Parmesan; tender empanadas; and, for dessert, dulce de leche–filled crepes. You’ll find the latter at weekend brunch, which also brings medialunas, the famed Argentinian pastries, and grilled-tomato bloody Marias.  

 

Brasserie Royale

Winter can make it tempting to hunker down over a meaty stew like a boeuf bourguignon, and you can certainly find pleasure in the version served at this casually elegant French bistro. But our favorite cold-weather comfort here is the halibut, fortified with creamy mustard sauce, caramelized mushrooms, and ultra-buttery potatoes. Ally and Michael Stebner have fun with the classics—tuna tartare is done up as if it’s steak, with capers and cornichons; Brie is served crispy—but wisely, their kitchen doesn’t tinker with Julia Child’s recipe for onion soup.

 

Caruso’s Grocery

It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten excited over a simple salad with creamy Italian dressing, but that’s Caruso’s—a pair of Italian-American restaurants that take dishes you’ve probably had a million times and make them their best selves. Think great garlic bread, a standard-setting chicken parm, and extra-lemony scampi. Even the dirty martini is a standout: The housemade tomato gin is garnished with an antipasti skewer of mozzarella and olives. Weekend brunch is only served at the Pike & Rose location; you’ll find the regular menu, plus treats like lemon/ricotta doughnuts and blood-orange mimosas. 

 

Café Colline and Chez Billy Sud

Parisian charm abounds at these sister restaurants in Arlington and Georgetown. Their menus lean into bistro classics done right: plump escargot tucked beneath puff pastry, steak tartare bright with mustard, and stellar moules frites in a pastis-scented broth with crème fraîche. They’re places built for lingering, especially over dessert. Chocolate-hazelnut pot de crème, dreamy rice pudding with salted caramel, and moist apple cake soaked in crème anglaise make choosing a challenge. At brunch, find hits like croque madames and gruyere omelets.

 

Cana

This tiny Brazilian bar in Adams Morgan pulses with energy, between the vinyl soundtrack and the free-flowing caipirinhas made with sugar-cane juice. But the food from the open kitchen is every bit as strong as the drinks. Ease in with a tropical-style fluke crudo or charred-hearts-of-palm salad, though the cheesy, mochi-like fried tapioca squares with a spicy guava dipping sauce are a must. Anything coming out of the charcoal oven is also worth your attention, but every table seems to know to go for the picanha steaks served with farofa, a Brazilian side made of toasted cassava flour. On weekend mornings, get a refresh with tropical fruit plates, heart-of-palm bowls, and French toast with passionfruit anglaise.

 

Chloe

Chef/owner Haidar Karoum’s all-over-the-map menu remains both masterful and appealingly unpretentious. Without hewing to any particular tradition, the kitchen cooks flawless renditions of global comfort dishes: chicken-liver mousse, hamachi crudo, lemongrass hanger steak, hummus with spiced lamb, and a plate of caramelized cauliflower glazed with tahini that made us feel things we haven’t felt since the great vegetable reawakening of the 2010s. The weekend brunch menu is just as eclectic.

 

Del Mar

The paella, a lavish gathering of lobster, giant prawns, mussels, and monkfish, is reason alone to snag a table at Fabio Trabocchi’s soaring glass dining room overlooking the Wharf. But it’s not the only one. Caviar canapés with nori crème fraîche; red-shrimp crudo; and smoked swordfish put us in the mind of sun-splashed Spanish isles. Some dishes, like jamón-flecked croquetas and Mallorcan sabrasado—a spreadable pork sausage—are humbler and heartier but no less compelling. Even the ubiquitous potato-and-egg tortilla delivers bliss, with Mahon cheese and a pricey but worthwhile add-on: truffles. On weekends, find the full regular menu plus a $36-per-person three-course brunch.

 

The Duck & the Peach

Take a cue from the chef carving a glossy roast duck when you walk in the door. Juicy meat, crisp skin, and a whisper of orange make it the star of the menu at this gallery-like dining room on the Hill. But it’s not all about duck. There are fun plates such as beluga-caviar canapés on crispy squares of fried yuca; pumpernickel with an array of butters; and a fantastic frisée-and-pear salad blitzed with shaved Blu di Bufala cheese and dressed in a Calvados vinaigrette. Weekend brunch starts bright and early at 9:30 AM with chorizo Benedict, apple pancakes, and cinnamon rolls. 

 

El Viejo Central American Kitchen

The Blanco family pours a lot of love into their small, light-filled restaurant, hidden away near the future Purple Line tracks and frequented by construction workers and well-heeled suburban families alike. Pupusas, tamales, and Salvadoran bean-and-egg breakfasts don’t get much better. And don’t skip the housemade aguas frescas in flavors like tamarind and cashew fruit.  

 

Ellē

In the morning, this all-day cafe hums as a coffee shop—packed with laptop lingerers sipping seasonal lattes and noshing on potato-roll egg sandwiches. Lunch brings such dependable comforts as a green salad with miso vinaigrette and anchovies or a well-built pastrami Reuben. At night, the place settles into a warm, welcoming neighborhood restaurant with imaginatively homey plates: crisp nuggets of fried halloumi with farro and apples; juicy chicken Milanese slicked with romesco; and Swiss-chard ravioli with mushrooms and toasty hazelnuts. 

 

Ellie Bird

Steak tartare combined with a punchy Thai papaya salad and malt-vinegar potato chips? It’s just one of the cleverly delicious mash-ups at Rooster & Owl chef Yuan Tang’s family-friendly restaurant, where you’ll find rigatoni with Bolognese but also a rice bowl with grilled hamachi collar and cured salmon roe. Brunch is just as exciting, with tornado omelets over kimchi rice and halo-halo smoothie bowls layered with tropical fruits, red beans, and lime shaved ice. Also noteworthy: Ellie Bird’s takeout-only fried-chicken operation, Side Chick, offering spiced birds with kimchi honey and scallion aïoli. 

 

Fava Pot

It smells like Grandma’s been cooking all day when you walk into the Falls Church flagship of this homestyle Egyptian restaurant. (The downtown outpost has a smaller menu geared to the office lunch crowd.) Owner Dina Daniel, who greets diners like family, serves up comfort in the form of béchamel-enriched chicken kofta, lamb shank with roasted potatoes, and an Egyptian-style beef moussaka with pine nuts and raisins. While the menu is expansive, the restaurant is particularly known for its falafel, made with fava beans instead of chickpeas. Another perk in Falls Church: daily breakfast starting at 9 AM. 

 

Fish Shop

There’s a lot to like about this soaring, impeccably designed Scottish import at the Wharf, where every seat offers floor-to-ceiling views of the waterfront. A nod to the UK—crumpets with smoked trout—was among our favorite dishes, but closer-to-home flavors deliver, too. Fried sugar toads (tiny pufferfish), grilled Maryland oysters, a juicy smash burger with comeback sauce, and an expertly fried catfish sandwich are standouts, and don’t skip creamy tiramisu with Virginia peanut brittle. Brunch brings extras like toast with mushrooms, sunchokes, miso, and labne, and johnnycakes with local ricotta and honey.

 

Joon

The relaxed elegance of this Tysons Persian destination makes it popular with both family groups and date-nighters. Helmed by cookbook author Najmieh Batmanglij and chef Christopher Morgan, the kitchen turns out such deeply flavorful classic stews as pomegranate-laced duck fessenjoon and beef with dried lime. More modern plates, including lamb-and-pistachio meatballs and a grilled whole eggplant with crispy onions, are often flawless, too. And don’t forget the fabulous rice, whether crunchy tadig from the bottom of the pot or fluffy sour-cherry or fava-and-dill pileups. Brunch has two tiers of AYCE options, plus a la carte lamb hash, spinach-and-feta omelets, and more. 

 

L’Ardente

Forty-layer lasagna is this chic Italian spot’s Instagram darling, but on our last visit, branzino was the dish of the night. Deboned, stuffed with fennel and kalamata olives, and drizzled with a bright salmoriglio sauce, it sets the city’s standard for the ubiquitous whole fish. Pasta is still a must-get, whether cacio e pepe, strozzapreti with Bolognese, or pappardelle with serrano-chili-flecked white ragu. Like that lasagna, tiramisu flambé is another showpiece that delivers in flavor. At brunch, graze off the full dinner menu, plus sample egg-topped pizzas and sorbet-laden spritzes.

 

Le Diplomate

There’s plenty of competition within the French dining scene right now, but Stephen Starr’s bustling brasserie still packs in the crowds. The always steady kitchen turns out textbook versions of easy-to-like bistro hits: steak au poivre, onion soup, trout amandine. It’s a place where you can splurge on oysters and chilled lobster with a bottle of Moët; grab a great cheeseburger at the bar; or, at brunch, settle in for some of the city’s best pancakes. 

 

Lapis

Hurricane lamps and Afghan antiques make for a date-night-friendly vibe. Spot-on cocktails—we love the Viceroy (basil-and-cucumber-infused gin, elder-flower, and lime)—and stellar cooking clinch the deal. To start, you can’t go wrong with one of the Afghan flatbreads, such as the potato-and-onion-filled version and the ever-popular dumplings, stuffed with either meat or leeks. There’s a stellar qabili palow—a riot of carrots, raisins, basmati, and tender lamb—and the kitchen has a way with fish. Meanwhile, vegetables like melty eggplant and savory-sweet pumpkin are a vegan’s dream. On weekends, there’s a $37 three-course brunch menu, plus za’atar-spiced bloodies and bottomless mimosas. 

 

Maketto

Erik Bruner-Yang’s minimalist space is many things: a place to linger over lavender lattes and a heavenly cardamom bun; a handy gift stop for design books and candles; and a dining room and expansive courtyard with updated Taiwanese and Cambodian fare. Some plates—such as impossibly crispy caramel fried chicken and Gruyère dumplings with beef chili—have become decade-old classics. Round things out with Peking duck and pork shoulder bao platters, gingery soup dumplings, and a divine banana-matcha tiramisu. And yes, the sneakers on the wall that double as an art installation are for sale.

 

Mama Chang

Chef/restaurateur Peter Chang’s ever-growing collection of Chinese restaurants has turned scallion bubble pancakes and Sichuan cumin lamb into DC-area staples. Mama Chang, an ode to the female cooks of Chang’s family, is one of our favorites. Dry-fried cauliflower seems to be on every table in the light-filled, warm-wood dining room, but lychee pepper chicken is just as much a standout for its sweet-tangy glaze. Order at least one of the seasonal specials, especially the Guanzhong hand-pulled noodles with garlic, chilies, and a vinegary sauce. And on weekends, the dim sum brunch offers soup dumplings, black-pepper-beef pastries, and turnip cakes with XO paste. 

 

Melina

Modern design and generous cooking are at play at this Greek dining room at Pike & Rose. Butterflied branzino, with smoky tarama and lemony ribbons of zucchini, has the perfect ratio of crisp skin to flaky flesh. The signature slow-cooked lamb neck comes with so many embellishments—pita, pickled onions, roasted peppers, mint-ginger tzatziki—that it arrives on a wooden tray. Brunch brings housemade breads and feta frittatas. And cocktails, such as a mix of Greek gin, tea, and herb-infused honey are a draw (plus, the happy-hour menu is a real deal). 

 

My Little Chamomile

In a cobblestone Georgetown alley, this Turkish/Mediterranean newcomer (and sister to nearby Green Almond Pantry) quickly won us over. Crackly sesame-and-nigella-seeded bread pairs with just about everything, and the girit ezmesi—an herby blend of feta, labneh, and goat cheese—is irresistible. Focus on the “From Mom’s Kitchen” section, where baby artichokes, creamy eggplant with juicy bits of lamb, and delicate beef manti shine. Desserts such as corn cake with quince compote or a light, creamy almond pudding are simple and satisfying, and you can sample housemade preserves and seasonal tarts at brunch. 

 

The Occidental

Last year, Stephen Starr took over this centenarian dining room by the White House and turned the dusty relic into one of the chicest restaurant spaces in town. Settle into a cozy nook drenched in olive-green velvet, or a table in the buzzier upstairs dining room, and you’re whizzed back to an era of three-drink lunches. (The excellent martinis help.) The menu is both elegant and easy to like. We go straight for pigs in blankets, oysters in beurre blanc, or lobster bisque before moving on to a rib eye or French dip. Other fun throwbacks: Champagne layer cake with Barbie-pink frosting, and a brunchtime plate of ham and eggs.

 

Perry’s

This Adams Morgan stalwart has long been a go-to for sushi in the neighborhood, but in recent years, the Japanese comfort-food menu from chef Masako Morishita has drawn national attention. Particularly buzzworthy: garlicky edamame dumplings showered in Parmesan, fried mochi with salmon roe in a dashi broth, and a shrimp-katsu burger with egg salad and lemon cabbage slaw. Morishita experiments further with rotating specials, which might include lobster rolls with yuzu kosho aïoli or miso-cream-corn toast on milk bread. Japanese prix fixe breakfasts, available on select Saturdays, are worth their own visit, and the restaurant throws one of DC’s best drag brunches. 

 

Preserve

This intimate Annapolis dining room, devoted to all things pickled and fermented, also gets top marks for its bar. One drink we’d detour for—a mix of thyme-infused gin, lemon, and pear purée—pairs especially well with nibbles like toasted focaccia with herbs; crunchy kale with pepper jelly and cumin yogurt; and a stunner of a crab salad atop a wedge of hash browns. Mains are crowd pleasers, including beautifully bronzed roast chicken and textbook steak-frites with a clever twist: kimchi-beef jus and chili oil. Weekend brunch, with additional plates like salmon Benedict and brioche French toast, is served until 4 PM.

 

Tiffin Hut

A short menu can be a great sign, and this Bangalore-style all-day cafe in Herndon, which opens at 8:30 AM on weekends, has pared its offerings down to the bare minimum: four dosa variations, four idli variations, and chai—all pitch-perfect. Benne dosas, folded in half quesadilla-style, have crusts shellacked with butter; idli act like springy sponges for ghee and vermilion roasted-chile-and-lentil “gunpowder” seasoning. This is South Indian cooking at its most deeply satisfying.

 

Yellow

By day, Michael Rafidi’s two Levantine spots are casual counter-order cafes with orange-blossom croissants and “urfa-thing” bagels. By night, they morph into restaurants with table service, dinner menus, and (hard-to-get) reservations. Evenings at Union Market are kebab-focused—lamb kofta and butcher steak are our must-haves—with showstopping smaller plates like wood-fired oysters and shawarma-spiced potato “tots” with creamy urfa dip. Georgetown is devoted to pizza-like sourdough pies topped with, say, Armenian sausage and pickled chilies or burrata with harissa. Both locations offer a tahini-ranch-dressed Little Gem salad worth obsessing over, and possibly the best hummus you will ever eat.

 

The following restaurants are open for weekend lunch: 

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Aracosia and Bistro Aracosia

These family-owned restaurants go beyond the greatest hits of Afghan cuisine with a roster of soulful vegetable and meat stews. Most memorable are a deeply flavorful lamb-and-okra version and another rendition with chicken thighs, garlic yogurt, greens, and cilantro. Classic plates, such as dumplings dressed with dried mint and yogurt; lavish rice with raisins, carrots, and pistachios; and charred lamb chops are expertly done, too.

 

Baan Mae

Thip Khao chef Seng Luangrath has been championing Laotian food in DC for more than a decade, but her newest Shaw spot feels hipper and more ambitious while also venturing into the flavors of Burma, Thailand, and beyond. Start with tapioca-pearl dumplings stuffed with peanuts and preserved radish; luscious salmon-belly skewers; and shrimp crudo dressed with a spicy, herby fish sauce. Braised pork ribs with caramelized fish sauce and ly-chee glaze are a crowd-pleaser, but don’t miss the “FiLao-O-Fish” sliders, a McDonald’s riff with fried catfish, whipped-tofu mayo, and green-chili sauce on milk-bread buns. 

 

Baan Siam

Sweet, sour, and spicy Thai flavors shine on this Mount Vernon Triangle dining room’s expansive menu. Start with chewy tapioca dumplings and shards of fried pumpkin for dipping in chili sauce. A crisp lotus-root salad with shrimp offers a refreshing counterpoint to rich curries, including the best khao soi in town. The centerpiece bar slings fun cocktails like the verdant Hanuman’s Leaf, made with pandan liqueur and ginger beer.

 

Cane and St. James  

We felt as well taken care of as ever on our recent visits to Jeanine Prime’s fun, masterful Trinidadian restaurant. Lunch at Cane, a cozy all-day cafe on H Street, is a treat, especially when it involves oxtails or jerk wings over rice, or warmly spiced paratha roti wraps. At the bigger, sleeker St. James, the kitchen’s Caribbean cooking reaches an apex. After a rum cocktail, nothing hits quite like smoky, tender brisket with ginger-spiced plantains and crispy macaroni pie—one of DC’s best mac-and-cheeses. 

 

Casa Teresa

Elevated Spanish home cooking is the lure at Minibar alum Rubén Garcia’s light-filled, stylish dining room and sprawling patio at the Square food hall. Tapas such as Catalan-style tomato bread, oysters with saffron sauce, and chicken-and-béchamel croquetas (a recipe from Garcia’s mother) make for standout bar fare. Or settle in for big platters of expertly cooked meats from the oak-and-charcoal grill, such as Ibérico pork, rare rib eye, and crisp-skinned whole fish. When it comes to dessert, the creamy Basque cheesecake is still the best in town. 

 

Chai Pani

DC now has more exceptional Indian restaurants than great steakhouses, so it felt almost excessive when Meherwan Irani and Vishwesh Bhatt announced this northernmost outpost of Irani’s James Beard Award–winning Indian hit in Asheville and Atlanta. But six months ago, Chai Pani created its own niche here at Union Market: a festive, color-splashed space where the chefs’ love for Indian street food shines. No meal is complete without snacks like SPDP—potato-stuffed puris with yogurt and tamarind—and matchstick okra fries.

 

Chay

Some of the area’s best Vietnamese cooking happens to be completely meat-free. Papaya and seaweed salads are colorful and overflowing with vegan tofu jerky adding to the medley of textures. Chef Lan Tran makes many of her own faux meats and seafoods from tofu and vegetables, ranging from a peanut-studded “clam” dip with sesame rice crackers for scooping to soulful bowls of spicy lemongrass noodle soup with soy ham and vegan beef. Even the fried fish that’s not actually fish is a stunner thanks to a mountain of julienned mango and tangy-sweet chili sauce. 

 

Gemini

Johnny Monis and Anne Marler—longtime masters of hospitality—are behind this pizza-and-pasta counter and wine shop, a standing-room-only spot where we nonetheless want to linger over orecchiette and skin-contact Pinot Gris. Monis’s meticulous cooking has echoes of Komi, the couple’s Mediterranean tasting room, which shuttered during the pandemic. The best olives in town and fluffy griddled pita are a given, and surprises abound—an umami-rich Japanese sweet potato with koji butter and feta, or eggplant “meatballs” that somehow taste meaty. Ice-cream flavors such as Nola coffee and vanilla swirled with polenta and cassis seal the deal.

 

Kema by Kenaki

Siblings Ken and Aki Ballogdajan elevate familiar sushi favorites at their industrial-chic spot in Cabin John Mall. This is where to find the area’s best spicy tuna with crispy rice—hot, crackly squares topped with cool, creamy tuna brightened by chili oil and scallions. A take on the regionally ubiquitous Old Bay roll layers sweet lump crab with potato flakes seasoned in Maryland’s signature spice. Round out a feast of rolls and pristine nigiri with small plates such as garlicky cucumbers and pillowy steamed pork-belly buns.

 

L’Auberge Chez François and Jacques’ Brasserie

This Alsatian-style cottage in bucolic Great Falls has the distinction of being the oldest restaurant—and the longest fixture—on our list. Little has changed in the special-occasion-worthy upstairs dining room. It’s still charmingly filled with folksy French knickknacks, and the seared foie gras, lobster with Sauternes butter, and Grand Marnier soufflé we have long loved haven’t changed in decades. Downstairs, Jacques’ is a more casual dining room that’s our go-to spot for choucroute garni, the Alsatian-style feast of meats and sausages atop sauerkraut. 

 

Lutèce

This petite Georgetown neo-bistro will transport you to Paris, and the concise menu changes often but reliably delivers. Begin with pain au lait, and save room for one of the masterful desserts, such as honeycomb semifreddo with Comté cheese. In between, chef Matt Conroy’s standouts have included acorn-squash bisque crowned with cheddar foam; melt-in-your-mouth Parisian gnocchi with escargot; and a Wagyu with sweet-potato pavé that ranks among the best steaks we’ve had in recent memory. 

 

Namak

Greek, North African, Turkish, and Persian influences pop up across the menu at this chic Adams Morgan address with cozy alcoves and Moroccan tile. The kitchen isn’t afraid to tweak the familiar. Gigante beans, a Greek staple often steeped in tomato and olive oil, get a toss of tahini and sumac here, and the result is marvelous. Sesame-crusted feta and juicy grilled shrimp are standout shares, as are walnut-marinated tenderloin kebabs and a magnificent braised lamb shoulder in harissa-scented jus. Baked rice pudding with saffron syrup and a shot of thick Turkish coffee is the perfect finish.

 

Northwest Chinese Food

Mouth-numbing red chilies and pungent black vinegar are recurring themes at this modern College Park storefront. Feast on chili-oil-slicked dumplings and traditional Chinese sammies on griddled flatbreads—we love the delicately fried chicken and spicy pork with kimchi versions. Housemade knife-cut noodles are worth coming for alone, and they shine in bowls laden with garlicky pork ribs or an egg-and-noodle heap kissed with chili oil. Vivid drinks such as kumquat lemon tea and a sour-plum juice cool down the fires.

 

Nue

This modern Vietnamese restaurant turns out stylish dishes and dramatic Instagram-ready cocktails in a floral dining room swathed in impressionist pastels. The flavors are just as artful as the aesthetics, whether a chicken-liver mousse infused with pho spices or ultra-crispy shrimp-and-pork spring rolls ready to wrap in fresh herbs and lettuces. Of the larger dishes, our favorite is handmade pappardelle with a lemongrass-accented braised-short-rib ragu that channels the flavors of a hearty Vietnamese beef stew. A tropical chè parfait of mango, lychee, and tapioca is a light but satisfying end note. 

 

Padaek

You can thank chef Seng Luangrath for popularizing Laotian food in DC—and across the country. Her crispy coconut-rice salad mixed with peanuts, herbs, and sour pork is rightfully famous, but lime-punched salads, fragrant soups, and banana-leaf-wrapped fish with herby coconut curry are also highlights. 

 

Southeast Impression

This attractive strip-mall spot with lush walls of greenery pulls off multiple Southeast Asian cuisines—Thai, Malaysian, and Singaporean—with confidence. Start with the expertly fried crab rangoons, chewy chive cakes, and duck rolls wrapped in roti. Chili crab arrives with crisp soft-shells bathed in a rich red sauce, plus sweet buns for soaking it up. Cool things down with a pyramid of fried rice crowned with a generous helping of lump crab. Desserts are equally delicious—don’t miss the pandan-scented castella cake. 

 

Sushi Nakazawa

This luxe sushi destination tucked into the back of the Waldorf Astoria continues to be one of the most consistent omakase rooms in town, delivering perfectly seasoned rice and expertly prepared premium seafood every time. It’s worth the higher price to sit at the sushi counter instead of the dining room ($190 versus $160) to watch the chefs mold bites of Japanese scallop with yuzu kosho or lightly torched buttery barracuda. Upgrade to a “super omakase” ($310) for luxuries like caviar, Wagyu, and white truffle. The spendy sake list feels like an encyclopedia and is full of unusual finds such as a crisp rosé sake. 

 

Taqueria Sabor Mixteco

Some of the area’s best regional Mexican cooking happens in this humble, welcoming storefront from industry veterans Apolinar Cervantes, Marisol Gonzales, and Juan Solano. Look for Oaxacan items such as the heady moles; the huge, crisp, smoke-scented tlayuda, a tortilla smeared with herby black beans; or the hearty pork-and-potato stew called chileajo. For a superb make-your-own-taco experience, try an alambre—a tangle of grilled meat, poblanos, onions, and melted cheese to be scooped into tortillas.

 

Tremolo Bar

Jared Slipp’s impressive wine bar—there are more than 70 pours by the glass—takes food and cocktails seriously, too. Graze on snacks like oysters molten with Parm and bacon or four-onion dip with the thinnest of just-fried potato chips. And don’t sleep on bigger plates, including duck confit and lentils; a silky lobster green curry; and hanger steak in a luxurious au poivre. Not to worry about Slipp’s “no fru fru” cocktails motto. His Naked & Famous—an elixir of mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, and Aperol—is about as much fun as you can get in a glass. 

 

Truong Tien

Its hidden location in the depths of the Eden Center mall makes this Vietnamese gem feel all the more transportive. The staff may not speak much English and menu descriptions are vague, but you can’t go wrong with any of the rice-cake and tapioca-dumpling appetizers, which might come open-faced, banana-leaf-wrapped, or chicharrón-encrusted with whole, small, shell-on shrimp. The restaurant’s most popular specialty is a spicy lemongrass noodle soup with rustic meatballs and other meaty bits in a steamy, rich beef broth. 

 

2 Amys

This Cathedral Heights fixture has an exuberant following that makes the black-and-white-tiled dining room and snug bar feel like a dinner party that never ends. There’s a steady roster of longtime favorites like green-sauced deviled eggs and garlicky pizza with cockles, but innovation shows up on the daily specials menus. Our latest feast included such hits as Sicilian chickpea fritters, porchetta with Tarbais beans, and a superb candied-pine-nut ice cream.

 

2Fifty

“So much barbecue, so little time” is our mantra when we hit these homegrown temples to meat smoked over wood and fire. It’s hard not to want one of everything, but right now our go-to’s include buttery American Wagyu brisket; smoked turkey that puts all others to shame; and peppery pork ribs. Sides are terrific too, whether a classic mac and cheese, brisket-studded beans, or mustardy potato salad. The rustic counter-service eateries can get jammed, so sometimes it’s wiser to spirit those fragrant bags home.

 

Your Only Friend

“Cool ranch”–dusted onion rings. A cocktail inspired by Disney World’s Dole Whip. Char siu pork with duck sauce tucked into a soft roll. This sandwich shop/cocktail bar is a nostalgic dream. Its take on a classic club sando proves there are no boring orders here: fresh smoked turkey, thinly shaved onions with bite, “fancy pants” ranch, great pickles, and a ton of grated Parm take it over the top. The espresso martini with tequila and malted brown sugar makes a perfect dessert.