Tableside martinis. Crackly-skinned whole duck. DIY fried-oyster sandwiches. Those are just a few of the things that knocked us out during our exploration of the area’s dining scene. (We visited more than 300 places to bring you this ranked list.) Here are the tables you should seek out in 2020.
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It feels important to say: Anju never set out to be number-one anything. The modern-Korean restaurant’s name means “food to consume while drinking.” The idea for it was born out of late-night chef gatherings. Service is pleasant but not pampering. Really, Danny Lee, Scott Drewno, and Angel Barreto—also behind the fast-casual Chiko—just want you to […]
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Anniversary, birthday, Wednesday. All are fitting occasions for chef Jeremiah Langhorne’s cozy-in-the-winter, airy-in-the-summer hideaway. We’re as happy dropping by the bar for seasonal drinks and a few plates—say, oysters with wildflower mignonette or a sumptuous foie-gras-and-fried-egg biscuit—as we are doing it up in the dining room by the kitchen’s hearth. (For the latter, reservations are […]
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This New York–born dining room, as spare as a museum, couldn’t feel farther from the gilt of the Trump International Hotel, to which it’s attached. The minimalism is relaxing, but what’s truly transfixing is watching Masaaki Uchino rhythmically slice his way through the loins and bellies of top-quality fish, much of it from Japan. That’s […]
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Ask plenty of industry insiders where they’d splurge and the answer isn’t someplace new or trendy—it’s this 16-year-old Mediterranean tasting room from omnipresent owners chef Johnny Monis and Anne Marler. We love the serene dining space where you can nerd out with veteran sommelier Kyle Wilson over wild-foraged hard cider, swoon over cheffy bites like […]
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There’s a lot of fermentation happening around DC—in the form of pickles and krauts and other acidic delights—but when it comes to creativity, chef Brad Deboy rules them all at this daytime cafe/nighttime hot spot. A glass jar of saffron-scented green beans and mushrooms perks up any lineup of dinner dishes, while earthy kimchee paves […]
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Cabbage was not something we ever imagined getting excited about. But that was before we tried the tender, charred leaves painted with rich oxtail jam and mole verde at Victor Albisu’s mod-Mex dining room. Now we’d come just for that. Albisu creates Technicolor flavors that feel entirely new but never forced. Shrimp and cuttlefish are […]
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Tomato with burrata? Foie gras with brioche? “Been there, done that,” you might think. But at this brass-lined restaurant, Ryan Ratino is turning dining tropes into destination dishes. Take that brioche—it shows up not as toast but as a fluffy steamed bun, accompanying seared slabs of duck liver and dates. Also impressive: Ratino’s handle on […]
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Teeny-tiny dining room aside, this modern Filipino destination goes big in every way. Robustly flavored plates fly from chef Tom Cunanan’s kitchen. We recently feasted on ceviche-like tuna kinilaw, sausage-and-crab-fat fried rice, and crackly-skinned duck. Drinks are delightfully varied, especially if you’re partial to offbeat bottles and vermouths. And generosity abounds, whether you’re swapping menu […]
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The most elegant welcome of the season comes courtesy of Aaron Silverman’s tasting-menu restaurant, where the smoothest of martinis—50-50, just how we like it—is stirred tableside when you sit down. To snack on: the “world’s tiniest slice of pie,” layered with bone marrow and onion gelée, and a pastry-wrapped escargot. The rest of the 9-to-11-course […]
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“Is it worth the wait?” a woman asks, eyeing the crowded Caribbean dining room where she’s on the hunt for “real Trini food.” Our answer: Absolutely. The space is tiny and reservation-less, but dishes from chef Peter Prime’s native Trinidad—which blend Africa, India, Spain, and beyond—are generous. Don’t skimp on punchy rum drinks and apps […]
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Fun fact: The staff at Patrick O’Connell’s pastoral dreamscape of a restaurant outnumbers the residents of the tiny town it resides in. Pulling off a standing-ovation-worthy production night after night, after all, is no small undertaking. This is a place of unabashed luxury—fresh flowers everywhere, a wine list that feels like an Encyclopedia Britannica volume, […]
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Fine-dining devotees have a home at chef Eric Ziebold and Célia Laurent’s refined restaurant, split between the elegant upstairs dining room Kinship and the subterranean tasting temple Métier. These days, we’re partial to the former for the ability to rove among menu sections such as “history,” which often nods to Ziebold’s Midwestern roots (a decadent […]
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Chef Yuh Shimomura operates the open kitchen of this snug Old Town dining room as a one-man show. His five-course tasting menu—a steal at $55—changes daily with grilled, fried, or steamed dishes that might include a silky egg custard topped with Oregon truffles or a grilled lamb chop in a dreamy foie gras–miso sauce. You […]
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Peter Chang built a following at his chain of eponymous Chinese restaurants. This newest venture pays culinary tribute to the Chang matriarchs—talented home cooks in their native Hubei, China—and his wife, pastry chef Lisa Chang. (Daughter Lydia manages the business.) Scallion bubble pancakes, mouth-searing hot pots, and other Chang hits are here. But it’s also […]
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Last year was a big one for Kwame Onwuachi—he released an acclaimed kitchen memoir (now being turned into a movie) and received a slew of best-chef honors from magazines around the country. There’s always the risk that this level of hype can lead to a period of autopilot, but his most impressive accomplishment is the […]
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When José Andrés launched his tasting counter 17 years ago, it felt like a parade of foams, airs, and mouth sprays. These days, the restaurant resembles not so much a madcap science class as an ode to Andrés’s native Spain. There are still surrealist touches on the menu—that bowl of olives that looks plucked from […]
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With a new Michelin star on his résumé, chef Matt Baker puts on one of the city’s more vibrant tasting-menu experiences from his warehouse-chic Ivy City restaurant. It’s comparatively generous, too, with five courses starting at $98. We feasted on inventive plates such as tuna sashimi with black-vinegar aïoli; lobster poached in curry-carrot butter; and […]
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One of our happy places is the L-shaped kitchen counter at this discreet Japanese izakaya—glass of Burgundy procured, ready for an evening at the hands of 73-year-old master chef Hiroshi Seki. (And is that Wizards star Rui Hachimura? Guess our secret’s out.) It’s tempting to play the now seven-year-old standards—scallop carpaccio, shrimp-and-onion fritters, bracing soba […]
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This eight-seat lunch counter and market serves the kind of Mediterranean fare you fantasize about stumbling across in a cobblestone alley somewhere far away. The giant chalkboard lists the daily specials. We loved a puntarelle salad with an anchovy kick, focaccia bursting with sweet tomatoes, and the whole fried artichoke with nothing but lemon and […]
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After a few coasting years, the Rose’s we fell in love with in 2013 has returned. Oysters with pickled ramps are a kaleidoscopic bite. A vivid panzanella isn’t just a summer thing, thanks to green tomatoes. And we’ll always return for the crème fraîche tart inspired by LA chef Nancy Silverton, whose confection made Julia […]
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Even if you’re the sort who sticks to the neighborhood when it comes to pizza, Tony Conte’s strip-mall spot is worth a journey. Conte escaped the world of fine dining—much of his training happened at New York’s Jean-Georges—and he shapes the dough each night himself. His crusts, with their ragged, super-charred edges are glorious, done […]
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Have a wings-and-pizza craving? These pizzerias—kid-friendly, date-friendly, and boozy-brunch-friendly—are your place. Those wings? Glazed in Calabrian-chili honey and served with feta ranch. The pies can skew cheffy—blanketed with, say, short rib and apple mostarda—but the pepperoni option is just as lovable. When it comes to small plates, chef Mike Friedman celebrates Italian American flavors, whether […]
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Calling this Spanish spot a paragon of consistency makes it sound rather dull. Not so. Sure, the core of the menu has stayed the same over the years. That just means we can be confident that, come summer, the wondrous creamy corn with lime will return. In the meantime, other memorable Spanish-accented pleasures abound: mini-sandwiches […]
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There’s punk rock blaring from a speaker outside and taxidermy shelved above the bar. The wine list is heavy on Madeira and sherry. In other words, this is a steakhouse unlike any other steakhouse in Washington. And while the meat here is very good—especially the ax-handle rib eye that will feed a party of four—our […]
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Over cacio e pepe? We don’t blame you. Unless you’re talking about the cheeseless riff Kevin Tien has created at this sophisticated new follow-up to Himitsu. It’s a little Japanese (miso butter gives it its earthiness), a little Italian, and a lot innovative, like most of Tien’s startlingly good cooking. Right now, the biggest hits […]
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At first glance, the menu at Centrolina, Amy Brandwein’s CityCenterDC Italian place, seems straightforward: crudos, pastas, a good old roasted branzino. And while her cooking is spare and elegant—she lets high-quality ingredients speak for themselves—it also manages to keep us on our toes. When was the last time you had linguine tossed with fried oysters? […]
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Philadelphia chefs Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby’s you’d-never-know-it-was-vegan DC hot spot—now in its second year—arrived just before Washington chefs became obsessed with making vegetables the stars of the show. The plates here put trendy whole cauliflower to shame—think rutabaga coaxed into a luscious fondue with warm pretzel bread, trumpet mushrooms masquerading as fazzo-letti pasta, and […]
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In a dining scene that’s churning fast, there’s a lot that’s comforting about returning to Peter Pastan’s bright, white-tiled pizzeria. The silky deviled eggs next to a pool of punchy green sauce, cockle-topped white pizza, and custardy vanilla ice cream are as alluring as they were when the place opened 18 years ago. Pay attention, […]
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Few things have changed since Stephen Starr’s bistro opened in 2013. The best tables are still the red leather banquettes that ring the dining room. Reservations remain tough. And the place continues to pull off several feats, from well-balanced cocktails to a great brunch to standard-setting house-baked breads and baguettes. The menu is straightforward and […]
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The prices—$98 seafood paella!—might make your heart quicken, but there’s much that dazzles at Fabio Trabocchi’s Spanish-luxe Wharf dining room. We could make a meal of the gorgeous seafood tower alone—it’s ringed with East and West Coast oysters, cocktail prawns, and saffron-scented mussels—plus a couple glasses of Cava. Or small plates such as vinegary marinated […]
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Twenty-nineteen was the year of married-couple restaurateurs. Leading the pack of newcomers: chef Henji Cheung and drinks whiz Sarah Thompson, who, with some green paint and a bunch of cool antiques, created a knockout of a space in Columbia Heights. Cheung grew up in Hong Kong and plays with flavors and ingredients—such as soy sauce […]
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This newcomer is courtesy of first-time restaurateurs and Equinox alums Colin McClimans and Danilo Simic, who worked together to create a farmhouse-chic dining space befitting their locavore approach. Gratis milk-bread buns kick things off before the parade of seasonal share plates. Vegetarians fare well—we devoured stewed beans with chèvre alongside carrot-and-brown-butter cavatelli. Omnivores shouldn’t skip […]
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Expats and Japanophiles still flock to Nobu Yamazaki’s 33-year-old institution for some of the finest fish in town—note seasonal rarities such as white king salmon—and an extensive menu of delicacies including housemade udon tossed in roe butter or Kobe beef cooked on tabletop binchotan grills. Personal chefs in a private omakase room entertain up to […]
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Like sister restaurant Komi, chef Johnny Monis’s northern Thai venture has stayed unapologetically true to itself. Eight years in, the family-style menus are still mouth-searing, and there are no reservations, no substitutions, and a reliably warm and hospitable waitstaff. (Another cooling basket of veggies? Thank you!) The seven-course roster doesn’t change a whole lot, either—for […]
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Dining at chef Haidar Karoum’s window-walled New American restaurant is like revisiting old friends—many influences and signature dishes from his past two decades in top kitchens including Nora, Estadio, and Proof have gathered here. (Hello again, spice-roasted chicken.) That’s not to say anything feels tired—Karoum is a master of bright flavors and tight technique—and there […]
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Family in town? Ladies’ brunch? We often find ourselves recommending this Mediterranean charmer, a historic Du-pont Circle house with a lovely patio and wood-burning fireplace. Credit chef Anthony Chittum and his team for bringing substance to match the style. An ideal meal might involve a Greek aperitif and grilled oysters; small shared vegetables plates and […]
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Never heard of gorro de bruja pasta? Don’t feel bad—the kitchen at this Adams Morgan spot made up the name for the noodles shaped like witches’ hats. The place, from a trio of Komi/Little Serow alums, has mastered the mix of fine-dining craft and spunky personality. The kitchen bakes three breads daily, each arrayed with […]
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Chill jazz, thoughtful cocktails, and cosseting service make this luxe dining room equally suited for dates or dealmaking. Also nice: The customizable tasting menus—four to seven courses each—don’t stint on memorable extras such as amuses-bouches and palate cleansers. Pastas, such as the signature lobster ravioli with ginger, and bucatini with red king prawns, are well […]
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At night, when Aaron Silverman’s cafe morphs into a whimsical res-taurant with a several-course tasting menu, our favorite perch is at the high-top communal table in the glass-walled conservatory. The menu might flow from airy “angel” eggs (meringue replaces the whites) to shrimp-tomato bisque with grilled-cheese soldiers to a crispy “cake roll” of porchetta and […]
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If fast-casual pizza sounds more desk-lunch than destination, you haven’t had the crackling-crusted Neapolitan beauties at this sunny counter-service spot. Our favorite creations are the pizzas inspired by pastas: a super-peppery take on cacio e pepe and an array of guançiale and pecorino that nods to amatriciana. The kitchen is just as talented when it […]
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At almost 21 years old, Robert Wiedmaier’s French spot feels a world away from 2020 dining culture. When was the last time you saw a foot-tall chef’s toque? Or a cloche? Still, jovial servers keep the quietly plush room from feeling stuffy, and—copious amounts of butter aside—the food is hardly stuck in the past. Think […]
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A blazing hearth for roasting meats and a playlist heavy on Middle Eastern hip-hop are just a couple things that set apart Rose Previte’s moodily lit Middle Eastern dining room. Reservations are still tough, so we arrive early and angle for a seat at the bar. Although the kitchen recently changed hands, it still has […]
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In case the sparkly river views don’t get the point across, the martini does. The vodka? Infused with oyster shells. The presentation? On a shell-filled tray swirling with clouds of dry ice. The not-so-subtle message: Although meat is on the menu, the marine realm is what Fabio Trabocchi’s sceney Georgetown restaurant handles best. Twirls of […]
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The pink neon sign at this jam-packed restaurant reads “Pasta Power,” but New York veterans Gabe and Katherine Thompson will woo you with far more than just bucatini all’amatriciana (good as it is). There are perfect little salads, nicely fried heaps of calamari and slivered lemons, a garlic bread to cross town for, and gorgeously […]
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There’s an obsession with all things pickled, preserved, and fermented at this snug, brick-walled storefront. Ham-hock terrine—a gorgeous grid of porky bits—is amped up with pickled green tomatoes and grainy housemade mustard. Meanwhile, grilled oysters with spinach, garlicky cream, and jack cheese make us wonder why you’d want to have them any other way. And […]
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It’s all about the chalkboard of specials at this bright, airy pizza shop. That’s where you’ll find blistery pies with seasonal toppings—squash blossoms, tardivo (a kind of chicory)—plus a short list of salads and small plates. Dinners here are for grazing on, say, a bowl of Prosecco-steamed clams, a bulb of burrata, and maybe a […]
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Every day is brunch day at this American diner as seen through the eyes of a French chef, David Deshaies. Here, avocado toast doesn’t taste trite, and a bagel with lox is turned into an elegant appetizer. At night, Deshaies serves nachos made from kale and poppers with chicken-pot-pie filling. Our ideal meal: meatloaf and […]
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Our favorite ultra-casual restaurant right now is this fried-chicken-sandwich/burger bar from local talent Alex McCoy. Big, global flavors are dished up in single- or double-patty creations, such as a crunchy, Szechuan-spiced bird or the Aussie-style Alfie’s bun with a fried egg and charred pineapple. Tempting fries, punchy salads, and mumbo-sauce-glazed chicken nuggets round out the […]
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This Bloomingdale restaurant, known for its smart cocktails and happening bar, is a place any neighborhood would be happy to claim. We’re tempted to make a meal of starters—chicken-liver mousse, trout rillettes, and cacio e pepe arancini. But pastas are not to be missed, whether mafalde with porcini crema or sausage rigatoni. Moderate.
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Chefs Scott Drewno and Danny Lee’s “fine-casual” Chinese/Korean venture shows how versatile the counter-service format has become. You can drop in for a wallet-friendly meal of garlic-shrimp dumplings, cumin lamb noodles, or kimchee stew with a cold beer. (Go the delivery route and it all holds up beautifully.) Or splurge on the $55 kitchen-counter tasting […]
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The West End dining room is coolly modern. Downtown is moodily lit and more intimate. Both have stellar Indian fare, courtesy of longtime chef Vikram Sunderam. His famed crispy spinach has inspired dozens of imitations, but none are as wisp-light as the original. While his peppery crab masala and honey-glazed black cod have become classics, […]
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You don’t have to spring for add-ons like caviar and truffles to have a fabulous meal at Nicholas Stefanelli’s Puglian dining room near Union Market. Four-to-six-course prix fixe menus feel luxe enough, especially with all the gratis bites—such as a ramekin of pear-rosemary-lime sorbet—that appear. Our go-tos on this set menu with choices: crisp-skinned orata, […]
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This mainstay satisfies cravings for everything from vegetable tempura to maki and crudo. (Ombré pink slices of yellowtail with grapefruit are a must.) But the greatest treasures reside on the daily specials list, which might include katsu pork ribs in chili-soy caramel or delicacy fish for sashimi and nigiri. Among the finds you won’t see […]
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You know you’ve ordered well when the diners next to you lean over to ask what’s on your table. Such is the case with this formidable Thai restaurant’s fried-papaya salad—golden fritters of fruit with lime sauce. Expect everyone to continue ogling the fried snapper prettied up with strips of green mango and cashews. Another treasure: […]
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José Andrés’s homage to his native Spain always delights and surprises. Order the elegant potato tortilla or olive-oil-slicked gambas al ajillo—longtime menu favorites—but also dabble in innovations such as caramelized onions sprinkled with Valdeón blue; “gin and tonic” oysters; and chorizo with cider sauce. Some items, like the Ferran Adrià–inspired liquid “olives,” call to mind […]
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This sliver of a dining room looks to Tuscany for inspiration. We see it in the not-too-sweet Rum di Mora cocktail, infused with blackberry purée. And in the deftly fried squash blossoms oozing goat cheese. A rustic sausage ragu is the perfect foil for tortellini filled with truffled cabbage, and a pungent parsley-caper pesto zings […]
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Cuban rhythms and pitchers of mojitos give this dining room a party-all-the-time feel. Also fueling the fun: rounds of starters such as crisp-skinned sardines, empanadas with sofrito-laced beef, and tuna ceviche tarted up with tamarind. The kitchen is an ace at frying, so toss in a few salt-cod croquettes and save room for the airiest […]
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There’s an air of playfulness at this southern Indian dining room with colorful paintings on the wall, party-hat-shaped dosas on the kids’ menu, and egg bajji, a clever riff on Scotch eggs with a creamy tomato sauce. Fiery shrimp ulli theeyal combines plump seafood with shallots and coconut. Curries run from mild chicken pooled with […]
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Michael White’s riverside restaurant is most glorious in summer, but the cozy, brick-walled dining rooms are charming in winter, too. Order the salumi board—we go straight for the pork-belly terrine, 20-month-aged prosciutto, and savory Parmesan gelato. For pastas, we gravitate to truffled ricotta ravioli and the flat rounds known as corzetti, here served with duck […]
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In Yemen, susi is made for honored guests. But here you can have it anytime. The French-toast-like concoction of eggs, milk, and bread—with honey for drizzling—is meant to be an entrée but could easily fill in for dessert. Other musts: haneeth, hunks of lamb on a mound of basmati, and shafout, a layering of bread […]
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It’s been a decade since Seng Luangrath introduced Washingtonians to the spicy flavors of Laos. What started with a secret menu in a strip-mall Thai spot has evolved into a handful of Laotian restaurants. It’s a testament to Luangrath—and son Bobby Pradachith—that so many diners have been turned on to, say, rice salad with fermented-pork […]
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Texas-size flavors come in a cozy, light-filled package at Beaumont native Chris Svetlik’s cantina. Drop by the daytime cafe for egg tacos on fluffy flour tortillas and iced horchata lattes. Evenings bring delicious drinks—get the fermented-Fresno-chili margarita—and creative Tex-Mex entrées. When it comes to fajitas, we like to mix proteins such as buttery shrimp and […]
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The smell of fresh dumplings and steaming soups makes even short waits at this no-reservations dim sum hot spot feel torturous. Mercifully, service is swift and patience is rewarded with pork-filled pot stickers and delicately wrapped wontons. The northern Chinese menu is vast, but make room on your table for handmade noodles swimming in a […]
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The highs are high at former Minibar chef Johnny Spero’s modernist restaurant in Georgetown. Take the whole duck—among the best of the trendy flock, with fennel-pollen-dusted meat, crunchy skin, and ac-companying duck katsu sandos. For a weeknight indulgence, try scallops swimming in dill buttermilk or a Baltimore gose with a burger (way more delicious and […]
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Each of Katsuya Fukushima’s quartet of ramen spots has its own personality. Haikan has terrific small plates (mapo-tofu-topped poutine, crispy pig ears) along with complex chicken-pork-and-beef broth. Bantam King is all about comfort, with its bowls of chicken-based soups and China-meets-Nashville fried chicken. Meanwhile, Daikaya is ramen-focused on the first floor—we love the spicy miso […]
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Crabcakes have dwindled in popularity—not many of the city’s hottest restaurants pay them much attention. This fishmarket/bar/tavern makes a convincing case for keeping them around. The secret? Pure Maryland jumbo lump meat, plus a tiny bit of a binder that includes brioche and heavy cream. That’s about as fancy as it gets here, our favorite […]
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You could easily make a night of just sangría and tapas at this Ballston Spanish spot: shrimp in bubbling garlic oil, gooey croquetas, and vinegary anchovies on salted potato chips. For those who want to explore beyond the small plate, a handful of platters can feed a table. The showstopper is the cochinillo, a half […]
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This Chesapeake-oyster spot now has two DC locations—a bar inside Union Market and a glass-enclosed room at the Wharf. The former has more convivial charm, but both turn out some of the area’s best seafood—a zesty fried-oyster po’ boy, clams topped with merguez sausage, and a pancake-flat crabcake with celery-root slaw—plus Virginia oysters (we’re partial […]
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Opulence is the word at this Indian dining room tricked out with massive stone carvings, a mother-of-pearl-inlaid bar, and shimmering textiles. You see it on the artful plates, too. (Yes, that’s gold leaf on your lamb shank.) Dashes of ginger and avocado make the kitchen’s tuna tartare taste relevant. Tiger prawns are arrayed around dabs […]
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Is anything more fun than gathering a bunch of friends around a bottle of soju and spicy pork belly on a tabletop grill? This Korean barbecue joint sets itself above the competition with its high-quality meats and marinades, variety of dipping sauces (the orange-chili is a fave), and bountiful panchan such as lemon-wasabi daikon. The […]
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What sounds like a daycare center is actually Erik Bruner-Yang’s new all-day cafe, offering a mix of Asian and Italian fusion dishes and dead-on cocktails in a room that nods affectionately to the ’80s and ’90s (check out that wall of VHS tapes). The menu is only 12 items long, but each makes an impression. […]
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Showcasing Korean, Thai, and Filipino cuisine on one menu is no small feat, but Cathal Armstrong pulls it off. We like to dabble in all three at his all-day Wharf restaurant, splitting family-style plates of Filipino lumpia and yellowtail marinated in coconut vinaigrette; Korean-style grilled short ribs; and the can’t-miss Thai crab curry. A waterfront […]
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At this Ethiopian dining room in Park View, owner Selam Gossa pays homage to her late mother’s Addis Ababa cafe. Others may have their nonna’s Sunday gravy or auntie’s dal, but Gossa boasts her mom’s shiro. The creamy chickpea-flour stew is a highlight of the vegetarian platter, where it sits alongside vivid red lentils and […]
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We’d visit these family-friendly restaurants just for their mantu—the Afghan version of dumplings. Stuffed with spiced beef, they’re topped with a tomatoey ragu, a drizzle of yogurt-garlic sauce, and a sprinkling of dried mint. The welcoming Springfield dining room and its larger Palisades counterpart also specialize in hefty portions of kebabs and stews. Good thing, […]
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Some of the hardest-working servers around can be found at Raynold Mendizábal’s un-stuffy steakhouse. It’s a place where everything from your Negroni to your plate of nutty Ossabaw ham to your tiramisu will be assembled tableside. It’s also where you can find some of our favorite cuts of beef, including a slab of pastrami with […]
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Kimchee is the star of the panchan lineup at this Korean barbecue place. Also on the table: shredded scallions; huge rounds of daikon; seasoned salt; and a swirl of sesame oil—all meant to enhance the meats grilled in front of you. Go à la carte or opt for a combo deal; even the smallest for […]
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It’s pretty much a given that you’re going to drink well in this mod dining room from the owners of whiskey mecca Jack Rose. The Adams Morgan newcomer boasts a vast collection of vintage spirits as well as good low-proof cocktails (try the sherry Negroni). Chef Russell Jones’s French-meets-Southern menu is just as much a […]
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We could spend the whole day eating at the Vietnamese-restaurant-packed Eden Center. But if you have just one meal, Mai Lam and Phuong Ho’s ever-crowded eatery is our bet. We happily feasted on lacy autumn rolls; charred squid salad; fat-rice-noodle soup; and platters heaped with grilled meats and herbs for DIY rice-paper wraps. Inexpensive.
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Anyone who balks at the idea of a standing-only restaurant should instead consider the fun of eating in a working kitchen at Erik Bruner-Yang’s intimate tachinomiya-style venture at the Line hotel. Large-format dinners are the stars, whether a talon-to-beak chicken-yakitori tasting or whole roast duck with housemade tortillas and sauces. A few snacks, including a […]
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This intimate room offers one of the region’s best prix fixe deals. The five-course meal ($81 or $91, depending on the night) starts with antipasti—maybe briny bottarga, or burrata with Ligurian olive oil. Then it’s on to such pastas as suckling-pig-stuffed agnolotti and maybe a rosy Waygu steak. The menu changes, but if you’re lucky, […]
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The Popal family’s Afghan restaurant is a rare gem where the candlelit setting is enchanting, the spiced cocktails delicious, and the menu interesting and vegetarian-friendly. Start with savory pastries and tender dumplings. Heartier winners include eggplant with yogurt; qabili palowwith lamb; and grilled lamb chops. We’re also fans of brunch, especially in patio weather. Moderate.
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No area chef is as fanatical about local sourcing as Spike Gjerde. You won’t even find citrus on his Line-hotel dining room’s menu unless it was grown in the Mid-Atlantic. That devotion means simple is often the best way to go—buttermilk biscuits with a trio of aged hams, say, or cornmeal-crusted fried chicken. On the […]
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An $86 entrée doesn’t sound like a deal, but hear us out. This 65-year-old Alsatian institution—where the clientele still dresses up for dinner—offers a “complete menu.” Besides that main course, the price includes an appetizer, salad, and dessert, plus other goodies (it’s hard not to fill up on golden garlic bread). Jacques Haeringer’s kitchen excels […]
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Bagels are a divisive topic. When it comes to assessing who slings the best rounds in town, though, we’re unhesitant about planting our flag in this Park View deli’s camp. And as the lines attest, we’re not alone. Baked in a wood-burning oven, the bagels are chewy, a little sweet, and particularly good done up […]
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Cedric Maupillier is leaning into his French roots especially hard these days at this Shaw bistro. And that’s just fine with us. Fresh reasons to visit include a strapping choucroute garnie, an endive-and-Roquefort salad, a butterflied chicken with vinegar-tarragon sauce, and the elegant floating island. That said, Maupillier has also mastered the art of the […]
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If you’ve been to the Miami original, you don’t need us to tell you about the joys of the tossed-at-the-table coleslaw and stone-crab claws with mustard sauce. But here’s a little secret: This throwback also serves the city’s best apple pie. And wedge salad. And actually, some seriously good steak, too. Yeah, it’s a chain, […]
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Venezuelan chef Enrique Limardo’s first DC venture after his Baltimore hit, Alma Cocina Latina, is a vivacious foray into pan-Latin cuisine. Plates double as museum-quality modernist expressions, whether ceviche ringed by purple potato or an abstract “coconut delirious” dessert. Start with tropical cocktails and snacks such as mini arepas or falafel with mango tahini. For […]
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CLOSED Every neighborhood should be as lucky as Adams Morgan to have a warm French-American bistro—perfect for a solo drop-in at the bar for onion soup, a cassoulet feast on a chilly night, or boisterous weekend brunch (we love the salmon flammekueche). Chef Matthew Cockrell keeps things interesting with specials, while pastry chef Stephanie Milne […]
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Southern Indian comfort food lures us to Saravan Krishnan’s welcoming dining room. Tomato-based egg curry offers both heat and richness, while kothu paratha—chopped flat-bread sautéed with eggs—is something we crave for breakfast and dinner. Dosas are greaseless, and even a workhorse dish like dal makhani deserves star billing. Inexpensive.
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Ramen is ancient history at David Chang’s DC outpost, but we’re not shedding any tears. We’re too busy scooping salted-chili pimiento cheese with chicharrónes and pondering seconds of kimchee potato salad. The label-defying menu ricochets around the world. Among the highlights: spiced chicken with chicken-fat rice and yogurt, as well as a stunner of an […]
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There’s much about Ann Cashion and John Fulchino’s 20-year-old restaurant that recalls a bygone era: savvy tie-clad servers; icy martinis and shellfish platters; and big appetizers like barbecue shrimp and grits or crab imperial. Entrées are about simple pleasures executed well, such as sautéed soft-shell crabs or grilled lobster with spoonbread. Expensive.
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The vibe may be West Coast, but Jonathan Krinn’s cooking melds French technique with farm-to-table fixings. Pumpkin soup is paired with curried okra, and snapper is enlivened with melty leeks. Sweets follow the same plot-lines. Go for the chess pie and the Mexican-hot-chocolate crème brûlée. Expensive.
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Chef Erik Bruner-Yang seems to be everywhere these days—running the new restaurant ABC Pony, designing menus for the Kennedy Center—but the fare at his Taiwanese/Cambodian flagship still feels personal. We dug into soup dumplings (all-you-can-eat on weekdays), searing cumin lamb noodles, and steamed branzino with mushroom duxelles. Service is reliably out to lunch, but with […]
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Every time we head to this cafe, an ode to the fire-and-vinegar-stoked cuisine of China’s Shanxi Province, we find something new to obsess over. Recently, it was a platter of knife-cut noodles heaped with pork ribs and chilies. In the past, we’ve fallen for the kitchen’s hot-oil-seared noodles, and a lineup of “burgers” on rice-flour […]
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Carey and Yuan Tang’s dining room is a fun way to enter the tasting-menu world without racking up a stratospheric tab. Customizable four-course menus are $65 and offer a wide range of bites. (A two-top can taste eight share plates.) Yuan pushes flavor boundaries—barbecue carrots with cornbread ice cream; charred-and-popped-corn gnudi. Try the $35 “mixed […]
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Nearly everything on the menu at this pizzeria has seen the inside of the wood-blazing oven. That includes empanadas, ice-cream cones, and, of course, the sort-of-Neapolitan pizza (we’re fans of the green pies and the Bentley, with soppresatta and peppers). The salads, with tender local greens, taste like what we only dream of coming up […]
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A real-estate building feels like an odd destination for Chinese comfort fare, but what the Qin family’s hot-pot shop lacks in decor it makes up for in firework flavors. Start with pork pot stickers or lian pi noodles slicked in chili oil—noted on the whiteboard specials menu—before moving on to bubbling cauldrons set over tabletop […]
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Mother/daughter duo Jocelyn Law-Yone and Simone Jacobson have created one of DC’s homiest restaurants. Jacobson is a warm, funny host, while Law-Yone, the chef, is a frequent presence in the dining room, chatting about her Burmese creations. The menu’s latest draws: fried cauliflower with tamarind dip and Law-Yone’s riff on mapo tofu, made with cubes […]
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Think of these Indian small-plates spots as Vikram Sunderam’s culinary labs. Though the chef has set the bar for upscale Indian dining with Rasika, it’s here that he’s at his most playful. Foggy Bottom has sandwiches (hello, fried chicken with beet chutney) and a bazaar-like feel, while the Cleveland Park location is serene. Both have […]
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Feel-good touches abound at this outpost of the Hillstone chain—the evening jazz trio; the generous pours of Chard; the smart, smiling service. Besides the things you’ve probably heard about—the city’s top veggie burger, the French dip that Dave Chang has touted—we return for the kale salad, the barbecue ribs, and a relatively new addition to […]
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Executive Food Editor/Critic
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
Food Editor
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
Food Editor
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind DC’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
