Your Guide to the Best Restaurants in Washington DC

Besides, one of the things you could consider is the price range of the dining options at your disposal, and there is something for everyone’s pocket. From upscale, Michelin star establishments to the affordable yet hip places that are popping out on every corner, the US capital is an international melting pot, and the restaurants paint a colorful picture of all the cultures present in it.

The Culinary Story of the City Told Through the Best Restaurants in Washington DC

While many other cities are known for their staple foods, the capital used to be a boring place for foodies. If you were moving to New York, you would have the world-famous New York pizza to look forward to. And if you were moving to Huston, mouth-watering barbeque is what would be in store for you. But here, there is no dish to represent the city.

Many famous chefs from the area used to look for a job elsewhere because they didn’t see an opportunity to build a career in DC. The recent development, however, paints a different story – the restaurant’s scene here is now blooming and booming. The area is rapidly turning into a foodie heaven. Many chefs are actually coming back to their hometown and opening-up unique, fusion, upscale, and hip establishments.

The First Restaurant in the City Was Established in 1856

The Old Ebbitt Grill dates back to the saloon period. It was originally built as a boarding house but has since been rebranded as the most famous restaurant in the city. Old memorabilia from the Victorian era gives it its unique charm. Nowadays, it is a favorite place for a meet up of politicians, celebrities, and journalists. It is also situated in a very favorable location, just across the White House and the National Theatre. If, however, you wanted to stop by after the play in the theatre, tough luck. To eat in this upscale establishment, you would need a reservation.

Another place with more than a century-long tradition is Occidental Grill. It was opened in 1906 and renovated in 2007 for its 100-year anniversary. Henry Willard opened this place in a Willard Hotel at the time, and since then, it has been a favorite place of politicians, celebrities, and influential people in the area.

Ben’s Chilli Bowl has also been around for quite a while. It is a casual place with a home-cooked meal vibe and clientele that would make many famous places jealous. To name just a few of them: Miles Davis, Martin Luther King Jr., Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, and even former President Obama. It is a casual must-visit spot in DC.

What Are the Predominant Cuisines?

Although you didn’t have much of a choice besides grills and dives until recent years, the restaurant industry is much more colorful these days. Not only can you choose between the staple cuisines from around the world, but you are also in for a treat of the novelty items and many mash-ups and fusion cuisines.

Of course, there are standard Italian, French, and Southern cuisine spots, but there are also Eastern, Middle Eastern, and even more exotic Hawaiian, Filipino, and Moroccan venues. Now let’s dig a little deeper into all of those cuisines and the finest establishments that represent them.

How Italian Cuisine Became All American?

Italian cuisine has long been one of the culinary bedrocks of the whole US, although it didn’t start like that. At the beginning of the 19th century, Italian immigrants brought their cuisine along, and it was scrutinized as “the food of the slums that makes people drink more alcohol.” The 1920s prohibition era couldn’t have that, and the Italian restaurants were only visited by natives for a long time. The first dish to take over the upscale establishments was the modest “mac and cheese,” but it was presented as macaroni au gratin, giving it that classy hint of French.

The 1940s was when it all started. The Work Progress Administration brought spaghetti and meatballs, pizza, Italian cheese, and olive oil to the center stage in New York. Over the years, classic northern Italian delicacies like risotto and osso buco made it possible for this cuisine to be considered more classy and refined. Nowadays, there aren’t that many things that are considered more American than New York Slice, Chicago deep dish, and Philly cheesesteak. And they all have Italian roots.

French Cuisine Is for the Ultimate Indulgence

The word French alone has some class to it. It’s no different when it comes to the cuisine hailing from this European country. Although back in the day, the main dishes served in the restaurants throughout the US were German wurst and schnitzel, French quickly came to the scene as a refined choice for the classy.

The superb French wines, cheese, pastry, coq au vin, and everything with the word gratin in it screams chic and expensive. Although Americans never really embraced this cuisine as their own, they always kept it in high regard. These are meals for special occasions, the cuisine of the upper class, and those of refined tastes.

Mexican Cuisine Is Colorful and Spicy

Mexican is another staple cuisine of the US. Mexican immigrants brought their colorful and spicy fares, and the rest of the Americans accepted it with great joy. Although it was a long road, it is now all-present, and it made a big impact, bringing spices and influence into many other cuisines.

If you moved from Miami or any other place in the far south, you know very well what we are talking about. If you are in a spicy-fiesta mood, these are the greatest places to try some Mexican cuisine and its variations:

Southern Food for Southern Comfort

Nothing screams comfort quite like good old American cuisine of the South. It is essentially a mix of a little bit of everything. The strongest influences in this cuisine are Mexican, German, Scottish, French, West African, the Spanish Caribbean, and Native American. You could say that there are a few different directions in this cuisine, but they all have one common denominator – home-cooked meal or soul food.

Middle-Eastern Exotic and Warm

Middle-Eastern cuisine is not for the faint of heart. It is spicy, it is exotic, it is pungent and rich. Consumers nowadays are ready for something new and exciting, hence the strong presence of this type of food. If you think you are ready for it and you are wondering what the best Indian or Turkish restaurants near me are, here is your answer.

Turkish Is Not for the Faint of Heart

• Kazan Restaurant – A place with a long tradition. It opened in 1980, and ever since then, it has served some great meze platters and lamb kebabs you have to try.
• Meze Restaurant – Serves small plate meals, and you could try many plates in one go. Our recommendation is to get a kebab, sigara boregi, and mucver. They have a happy hour when you can taste most of their menu for as much as five bucks. It’s a bargain.
• Agora – Here you can taste not only Turkish but also some other cuisines from the surrounding countries like Greek and Lebanese. Don’t miss the kibbeh and fried baby eggplant with beef.

Indian Restaurants Serve Great Meat and Vegetarian Options Alike

• Rasika – An open kitchen, award-winning, upscale Indian restaurant. They are very proud of the whole experience they provide to their guests. Besides the butter chicken and other meat specialties, there is also a wide array of vegetarian dishes.
• Indigo – A family-owned place that delivers the unique tastes of the Indian street dishes right to your table.
• Cafe of India delivers great Indian meat and vegetarian courses for a reasonable price. You can get a meat or veggie dish with the side of rice for $12.

Far-Eastern Cuisine Brings Refined and Alluring Tastes

When it is time to get even spicier and even more exotic, you can’t go wrong with Chinese, Japanese, or Korean cuisine. The influence and presence of these cultures are strong throughout the whole US. So if you are wondering what the best Asian restaurants near me are, here is a shortlist of top recommendations:

Best Chinese Restaurants in Washington DC

• Shanghai Taste is THE spot for soup dumplings, but you shouldn’t stop on that, don’t forget to get pork with rice cakes.
• A&J focuses on North-West Chinese cuisine. They are known for their noodles and dim sum.
• Joe’s Noodle House – If you prefer a bit bolder Sichuan taste, this is your safest bet. Things to eat there are definitely dumplings with red hot sauce, homemade bacon with leek and mapo tofu.

Japanese Cuisine Is a Refined Tasting Experience

• Kobo is an establishment with an incredible 12-15 dish omakase, and they offer a meat-and-fish and a vegetarian version of it.
• Sushiko is the place for you if you are a fan of sushi and you don’t want to compromise with the taste, nor overpay. There is a five-course meal lunch for only 30 bucks, and you can get sushi hand rolls for $5 when it’s happy hour.
• Izakaya Seki is a kind of Japanese pub. This is a great spot to go out with friends for some great courses paired with sake.

Korean Bbq and Bar Is on the Rise with Its Popularity

• Honey Pig is a chain that has many variations of the visually attractive and tasty Korean BBQ. Order duck breast, marinated squid, bulgogi, and galbi there.
• Sakuramen – Even though it is a diner with the mostly Japanese menu items, their Korean spin on steamed buns with marinated steak, mushrooms, and pork is to die for.
• Muzzete is your place to indulge in some Korean-style Ramen, bibimbap, and unique street-style Korean savory pancakes.

Special Diet Requirements Are No Longer out of Reach

Society and modern medicine nowadays are much more accepting of special diet requirements and lifestyle choices. Gluten allergy or celiac disease is recognized as a real problem, for example, and it is much easier than ever before to find gluten-free ingredients and courses if you want to eat out.

Also, vegan, vegetarian, raw, or paleo diets are very popular lifestyle choices, and the food industry has recognized the need for more spots that serve the ingredients in accordance with it. You don’t have to turn the skies and the earth upside down anymore to find a perfect vegan restaurant.

Vegan and Vegetarian Options

The main difference between those two is that one option is a bit more strict than the other. Ever since some world-renowned chefs started embracing the movement, some exceptional dishes started popping out on the foodie scene. There are more and more establishments that serve vegan and vegetarian items exclusively, and it is a norm that all the establishments that hold high standards have at least a few vegetarian options on their menu.

On the list of the most vegetarian-friendly cities to live in, DC is right in the middle, which is not bad at all.

• Equinox is a fancy vegetarian brunch spot, known for gazpacho, vegetable jambalaya, cannoli, and whoopie pies.
• Nu Vegan Cafe serves the most delicious vegan lasagna, black bean burger, and vegan mac and cheese. Even better, you have them in three locations throughout the city.
• DC Dosa is a vegetarian-only Indian restaurant. Their staple dishes are lentil crepes with curry potatoes, eggplant or roasted vegetables, and, of course, dosas.
• HipCityVeg serves meals made out of fresh ingredients that are delivered on the spot every day. It is also a very environment-friendly location that uses packaging made of corn. They compost all the scraps, and they deserve a big thumbs-up for their extra effort.

Gluten-Free, Paleo and Raw Options for Food Intolerant

Many people have digestive problems stemming from some nutrition components, but nowadays, it is much easier for them to go out and eat than it was ten years ago. The industry opened up towards many of those problems, and you can find gluten-free, paleo, and raw options almost everywhere. Whether you are intolerant or you are sticking to a diet regiment, these are some great options for you:

• Rise Bakery is the only exclusively gluten-free bakery within the city. Don’t let the celiac disease stop from indulging in great bagels, cheesecake, muffins, and pies.
• San Lorenzo serves some great gluten-free pasta with great meat or vegetarian sauces.
• Firefly has a full gluten-free menu.
• Blacksalt Fishmarket has all-paleo seafood courses like tuna tartare, scallops, clams, and various mussels. What is more, they are acquiring their fish and seafood from sustainable sources.
• The Pig uses every part of the animal. They serve bone marrow pate, braised pork cheek, cracklings, and side dishes that are sourced from local farms.
• Elizabeth’s Gone Raw gives a whole new twist to the consumers of raw food. If you thought raw couldn’t be upscale and classy, they will prove you wrong.

Pack Your Bags

The capital of the US will give you ample choices in all aspects of life – including great places to eat out. The time of only grill or chips places in DC is long gone. The capital has taken its rightful place in the restaurant industry. What is important is that you do have all the options you may ever wish for. Besides the various cuisines, life choices, and food intolerances, you can also adjust your search according to your budget or occasion. From low cost to upscale places, there is ample to choose from. The question isn’t what the best restaurants near me are – the question is what you are in the mood for today.

If you can’t wait to try some of the places from our list, consider picking up the phone and scheduling moving services from reliable DC long-distance movers – they will make your relocation a breeze.