The Best Restaurants In Washington DC

If you love a trendy restaurant that has amazing food and amazing vibes, you’re going to love this list of the best restaurants in Washington DC! There’s a wide variety of cuisines like American, Szechuan, Asian, Italian, Seafood and more. I’m so excited for you to try these!

The Best Restaurants in Washington DC

Astoria

Cuisine: Szechuan/Chinese
Neighborhood: 17th Street/Dupont
Vibe: trendy, unique
Instagram: @astoria_dc
Yelp

Maydan

Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: trendy, jungle house music, high vibe
Instagram: @maydandc
Yelp

Ilili

Cuisine: Lebanese
Neighborhood: The Wharf
Vibe: trendy, beautiful, modern
Instagram: @ililirestaurants
Yelp

Old Ebbitt Grill

Cuisine: American
Neighborhood: Downtown/Whitehouse
Vibe: Traditional, iconic DC spot, white tablecloths
Instagram: @oldebbitt
Yelp
Note: the dirty martini is the best I’ve found in the city

Chloe

Cuisine: I would call it modern American with some Asian/Mediterranean twists but their website says “showcase of Chef Haidar Karoum’s personal culinary journey, including his Lebanese roots and extensive travel around Western Europe and Southeast Asia, all grounded in and linked by the seasonal bounties of the Mid-Atlantic”.
Neighborhood: Navy Yard
Vibe: trendy, good vibes
Instagram: @restaurantchloe
Yelp

Tiger Fork

Cuisine: Chinese
Neighborhood: Blagden Alley
Vibe: trendy, unique
Instagram: @tigerforkdc
Yelp

Tiger Dumplings

Cuisine: Chinese
Neighborhood: Arlington
Vibe: trendy, lively
Instagram: @tigerdumplings.official
Yelp

Tiger Dumplings (Dan Dan Noodles, Scallion Pancake, Signature Dumplings)

Tiger Dumplings (Dan Dan Noodles)

Paraiso Taqueria

Cuisine: Mexican (creative & modern)

Neighborhood: Capitol Hill East
Vibe: trendy, fun
Instagram: @paraisotaqueria
Yelp
Note: get the birria tacos and enchiladas verdes

Paraiso: Mariposa Margarita

Paraiso: Birria & Carne Asada Tacos, Enchiladas Verdes

Le Diplomate

Cuisine: French
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: modern, European, classy
Instagram: @lediplomatedc
Yelp

Caruso’s Grocery

Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Vibe: modern, classy
Instagram: @carusosgrocery
Yelp

Rasika

Cuisine: Indian
Neighborhood: Penn Quarter or West End
Vibe: traditional, classy
Instagram: @rasikadc
Yelp
Note: get the fried spinach appetizer and salmon

Barcelona

Cuisine: Spanish tapas
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: rustic, romantic, trendy
Instagram: @barcelonawinebar
Yelp

Compass Rose

Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: cozy, romantic, unique
Instagram: @compassrose_dc
Yelp

Mi Vida

Cuisine: Mexican
Neighborhood: 14th Street, The Wharf and Penn Quarter
Vibe: fun, lively, colorful
Instagram: @mividamexico
Yelp

Etto

Cuisine: Italian/Pizza
Neighborhood: 14th Street
Vibe: simple, cozy, cute
Instagram: @pizzeria_etto
Yelp

Zaytinya

Cuisine: Greek, Lebanese
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Vibe: simple, traditional, not fancy but not overly casual
Instagram: @zaytinya
Yelp

All Purpose Pizzeria

Cuisine: Pizza
Neighborhood: Shaw or Navy Yard
Vibe: chill
Instagram: @allpurposedc
Yelp

North Italia

Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Foggy Bottom
Vibe: modern, simple, not fancy but not overly casual
Instagram: @eatnorthitalia
Yelp
Note: it’s popular in several cities but worth mentioning because it’s good!

O-Ku

Cuisine: Sushi/Asian
Neighborhood: Union Market
Vibe: trendy, modern, classy
Instagram: @okusushidc
Yelp
Note: it’s popular in several cities but worth mentioning because it’s good!

Susheria

Cuisine: Sushi/Asian
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Vibe: trendy, unique
Instagram: @susheriadc
Yelp

Restaurants I haven’t tried but are next on my list…

Chloe

Cuisine: New American
Neighborhood: Navy Yard
Instagram: @restaurantchloe
Yelp

Filomena

Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Instagram: @filomenaristorante
Yelp

Makan

Cuisine: Malaysian
Neighborhood: Colombia Heights
Instagram: @makan_dc
Yelp

Shoto

Cuisine: Sushi
Neighborhood: Downtown
Instagram: @shotodc
Yelp

The Dabney

Cuisine: New American
Neighborhood: Blagden Alley
Instagram: @thedabneydc
Yelp

Best Cookies In Washington DC

This might be the most important part of this list…

Levain Bakery

Vibe: Thick, gooey, amazing cookies!!!!
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Instagram: @levainbakery

Captain Cookie

Vibe: Amazing cookie ice cream sandwiches!!
Neighborhood: Eastern Market, Foggy Bottom, Arlington, Brookland
Instagram: @captaincookiedc

My Favorite Spots For Lunch Near DC

I don’t have a ton of lunch recommendations (we usually eat at home or grab something quick and close like Sweetgreen or Cava) but these are 2 spots I LOVE and had to tell you about.

Poke It Up

Cuisine: poke bowls
Neighborhood: Ballston, VA
Vibe: very casual, order at the counter
Yelp
Note: go to the one on Fairfax (not the one in a mall)

Chaia Tacos

Cuisine: vegetarian tacos
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Vibe: casual but cute, nice area upstairs with lots of natural light to eat then work
Instagram: @chaiatacos
Yelp
Note: get the mushroom taco, kale potato taco and green rice

Union Market

Cuisine: almost any cuisine! My favorites are Blue Bottle for coffee, Las Gemelas for tacos and Maman for lunch (the turkey club and cauliflower salad is amazing). There are also some nicer sit down restaurants you can go to for dinner like O-Ku and St. Anslem!
Neighborhood: Noma
Vibe: trendy food court with a few shops (my favorite shop is Salt & Sundry…they have the cutest home decor and gifts)
Instagram: @unionmarketdc

Maman

Las Gemelas

Unconventional Diner

Cuisine: modern diner with creative assortment of options (fun for brunch)

Neighborhood: Shaw
Vibe: eclectic, unique, fun
Instagram: @unconventionaldiner

Map of All Washington DC Restaurants Recs

I saved all of my recommendations for you in the map below to make it super easy to get around! Here’s the full link so you can save it: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/4/edit?mid=1ZZUHr3vFXDDdJEtTYESiYmuwbDuex4A&usp=sharing.

The Best Restaurants In Washington DC