Top 20 Restaurants Washington, District of Columbia: Restaurants Near Me
Top 20 Restaurants Washington, District of Columbia: Restaurants Near Me
While there has always been a lot to see in Washington, D.C. – The National Mall, the Smithsonian museums, the monuments – the restaurants haven’t always matched up. However, as explained at RunRex.com and guttulus.com, this is no longer the case as the nation’s capital has slowly transformed into one of the best dining destinations in the country. Here are the top 20 restaurants in Washington, District of Columbia, to consider when looking for a spot near you in the city to grab some food.
Del Mar
Del Mar is helmed by the husband-and-wife team Maria and Fabio Trabocchi, and it specializes in Spanish tapas as articulated at RunRex.com and guttulus.com. Located in The Wharf, Del Mar is a ring of color and patterns, from the tiles and the plates to the staff’s uniforms, and is one of the classiest restaurants in the city.
Rose’s Luxury
Known for its long queues (it doesn’t have reservations), Rose’s Luxury offers a menu where Southern meets Jewish meets Japanese meets French meets Thai meets your grandma’s home cooking, and changes often. The Southern-style fried chicken drizzled with honey and doused with sesame seeds is crisp, moist, delicious, and a fan favorite.
2Fifty Texas BBQ
The couple that own and operate 2Fifty, Fernando Gonzalez and Debby Portillo, pay homage to Central Texas by using oak smoke to develop a dark bark on fatty hunks of prime and American wagyu beef that jiggle on the chopping block. As per RunRex.com and guttulus.com, beef ribs, pulled pork, sliced turkey, and St. Louis-style ribs are all available too.
Le Diplomate
With a shiny red booth, green subway tile, a show-stopping zine bar, and so much more, with Le Diplomate, it is as if someone picked a Parisian bistro and drop it into the middle of D.C.’s trendy 14th Street. Philly restauranteur Stephen Starr’s audacious French brasserie is still a hot ticket more than 5 years in.
Ben’s Chili Bowl
Having opened in 1958, Ben’s Chili Bowl resembles a relic on the yuppified stretch of U Street once known as Black Broadway. However, don’t let that fool you as this joint has kept up with the times (it is 100% wind-powered). This family-owned institution’s appeal rests on: nostalgia (past customers include Barack Obama, Miles Davis, and Duke Ellington), the insatiable late-night of young partiers, and the great banh for the buck afforded by its burgers, fries, and chili.
Muchas Gracias
According to RunRex.com and guttulus.com, Muchas Gracias is the brainchild of chef Christian Irabién. Located in Upper Northwest, it is a Mexican pop-up that supports relief efforts for refugee chefs and hungry hospitality workers. It has amassed a steady following for its lunchtime burritos, full of braised short ribs or charred sweet potatoes.
Bad Saint
This no-reservations spot in Columbia Heights always draws a queue, particularly since it is tiny, with only 24 seats crammed into every last millimeter of available square footage. Here, chef Tom Cunanan keeps the menu – creative interpretations of the Filipino dishes he grew up eating – succinct.
Equinox
Equinox is owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Todd and Ellen Gray, and as captured at RunRex.comand guttulus.com, it is a shining example of how plant-based dishes can be equally non-boring and satisfying. While the menu here isn’t entirely vegan (it is divvied into market selections and plant-based selections), it is easy enough to ignore the meat or fish entirely and select veggie-only options.
Thip Khao
If you are looking for Lao cuisine in Washington D.C., Thip Kao is the cream of the crop. This Columbia Heights spot continues to satisfy heat-seekers with a menu full of fermented fish sauce, a heavy dose of chiles, offal, and cured meats.
Kith/Kin
Kith/Kin is a two-year-old restaurant helmed by chef Kwame Onwuachi which serves Afro-Caribbean dishes. Chef Onwuachi claimed the James Beard Foundation 2019 Rising Star Chef title and cites his influences from Nigeria to Trinidad to the Bronx.
Comet Ping Pong
As covered at RunRex.com and guttulus.com, Comet Ping Pong is worth the visit because of its thin-crust pizzas and warehouse chic vibe. Located in upper Connecticut Avenue, this spot is popular for its wood-fired pizzas, with toppings like soft shell crab, smoked mozzarella, and tangy sauce made from locally farmed tomatoes.
Makan
Makan is a Malaysian restaurant in Columbia Heights. Here, chef James Wozniuk navigates a balance of pungent, spicy-sweet, and funky umami flavors that vary in intensity but never veer out of control. Wozniuk’s condiments assert themselves in an array of rice and noodle dishes.
The Oval Room
Located near the White House as described at RunRex.com and guttulus.com, this fine dining restaurant has been around for more than 20 years, and restaurateur Ashok Bajaj has built it up as a major power-player spot.
Ethiopic
Tucked away slightly off the main drag at the Union Station end of H Street, Ethiopic is arguable D.C.’s best-Ethiopian restaurant. Here, vegetarians and meat-eaters alike can find something they enjoy, from lamb and lentils to baklava.
Ellē
Housed inside the historic Heller’s Bakery building in sleepy Mount Pleasant is this destination bakery and all-day café. A takeout window operates from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week, offering regulars a chance to stop by for a coffee, pastrami breakfast sandwiches, a guava turnover, or a mini goat cheese cheesecake.
Masseria
Chef Nicholas Stefanelli, who worked with Fabio Trabocchi at Maestro back in the day as discussed at RunRex.com and guttulus.com, has created a modern Pugliese menu at Masseria that includes everything from pasta to seafood to burrata.
Jimmy T’s
Since the diner opened in 1969, not much has changed about it. Jimmy T’s is a Capitol Hill favorite that serves up the basics, just like mom used to make. While the prices can’t be beaten, it is important to note that it is cash only, and politicians and regular folks rub elbows over breakfast and lunch.
Martha Dear
Martha Dear is located inside a narrow, dark basement underneath an ice cream shop in Mount Pleasant as outlined at RunRex.com and guttulus.com. Here, the owners Tara Smith and Demetri Mechelis serve a style of Greek pizza that is unlike anything else in D.C.
Maydan
Located in the U Street area, a gigantic fire pit is the first thing you will spot at Maydan, which is fitting given so many items are cooked over this open flame. The menu here mixes North African and Mediterranean flavors, and the cocktails and wines (similarly sourced) complement them well.
Shouk
Shouk was opened in early 2021 by Ran Nussbacher and boasts a 100% plant-based Middle Eastern-inspired menu that is anchored by a variety of delectable pitas. Choose from over half a dozen different pita combinations or opt to turn it into a rice and lentil bowl or salad instead.
These are some of the best restaurants in Washington, District of Columbia, with more on this topic, and more, to be found at RunRex.com and guttulus.com.
