The Top 100 Places to Eat Near Kiyomi

Updated July 18, 2026

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  1. Rank 1. Casa Teresa

    Spanish

    Spanish home cooking done with real technique, inside a light-filled dining room and patio at the Square food hall. The team came up through serious kitchens, and you can taste it, especially in the meats off the oak-and-charcoal grill. The crowd skews stylish without trying too hard, the kind of people who order a second round of croquetas without apology. Save room for the Basque cheesecake, which quietly earns every compliment it gets.

    Awards
    Address
    919 19th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  2. Rank 2. Kiyomi

    Japanese

    A 16-seat sushi counter in downtown DC where the omakase actually respects your bank account. The chef built a loyal following slinging a weekday lunch deal before landing this proper home, and the regulars followed. It draws the kind of crowd that genuinely knows their nigiri, which keeps things honest. Dinner omakase runs on Fridays if you want the full commitment, but the lunch deal is the real reason people keep coming back.

    Awards
    Address
    1850 K St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  3. Rank 3. Imperfecto

    Latin American

    A Michelin-starred fine dining room in DC's West End where modernist Latin cooking gets a serious workout. The glass-and-marble space looks like it's trying to impress someone, and honestly it pulls it off. Snag a counter seat directly under the chef's perch and you're basically inside the kitchen, watching an elaborate tasting menu unfold. The crowd dresses like they have reservations somewhere important, which, to be fair, they do.

    Awards
    Address
    1124 23rd St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  4. Rank 4. Rasika

    Indian

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    Address
    1190 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  5. Rank 5. The Bombay Club

    Indian

    Polished Indian dining steps from the White House, where the power-lunch crowd loosens their ties but never their ambitions. The room channels old British Raj club energy, all plush and proper, and the cooking is the real deal, ranging from Northern grilled meats to Southern coconut dishes. You'll spend half the meal squinting at the banquette trying to figure out which senator that is. That's half the fun.

    Awards
    Address
    815 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  6. Rank 6. Causa

    Nikkei Peruvian

    Tucked into Blagden Alley, Causa is a Michelin-starred tasting menu spot for about 20 people, so it already feels like a secret. The chef blends Japanese technique with Peruvian ingredients in a way that actually makes sense, moving you from Lima's coast up through the Andes and into the Amazon over the course of a meal. The crowd leans date-night and serious-eater, the kind of people who researched this place weeks ago.

    Awards
    Address
    920 Blagden Alley Washington, DC · Washington
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    On the Way What's Around

  7. Rank 7. Moon Rabbit

    Vietnamese

    Moon Rabbit is a modern Vietnamese restaurant where the chef's Louisiana upbringing crashes into his Vietnamese roots, and the result is genuinely surprising without feeling like a gimmick. Mochi beignets, Cajun-leaning preparations, Vietnamese classics rerouted through the American South. The Penn Quarter room is bright and lively, full of people who came ready to be curious. Dessert holds its own, which isn't something you can say everywhere.

    Awards
    Address
    927 F St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  8. Rank 8. Anju

    Korean

    Anju is a Korean gastropub on 18th Street where the whole concept is food made for drinking, which means everything arrives salty, spicy, or rich enough to justify another round of soju. The crowd is young and loud and clearly regulars, packed into a brick-walled room that manages to feel cozy at full capacity. The menu pulls from real home cooking, and that warmth comes through in every bowl.

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    Address
    1805 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  9. Rank 9. Jetties

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    Address
    1921 I St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  10. Rank 10. Amparo Fondita

    Mexican

    Modern Mexican done with real care in a minimalist Dupont Circle room, where the Michelin folks handed out a Bib Gourmand and honestly, it tracks. The chef nixtamalizes corn in-house and the menu swings from a raw bar to mole-glazed halibut to sides that quietly steal the show. The crowd tends toward first dates and neighborhood regulars who've figured out that the "simple" dishes are never actually simple.

    Awards
    Address
    2002 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  11. Rank 11. Balos Estiatorio

    Greek

    A full-on Greek taverna that actually commits to the bit, with olive trees indoors, hand-thrown pottery on the walls, and a menu that reads like a greatest-hits of the Mediterranean. The room feels warm and unhurried, the kind of place where big groups settle in for the night. Grilled fish, souvlaki, spanakopita, and those fries will keep you busy, and you're finishing with baklava whether you planned to or not.

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    Address
    1940 N St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  12. Rank 12. Amazonia

    Amazonian Peruvian

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    Address
    920 Blagden Alley, Washington, DC · Washington
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  13. Rank 13. The Dabney

    American

    A Michelin-starred fine dining room tucked down a cobblestone alley in Shaw, which already tells you something about its personality. The hearth does real work here, giving everything a quiet smokiness that ties the Mid-Atlantic cooking together. The crowd skews date-night and special-occasion, but the recently added à la carte option means you're no longer locked into a full tasting menu commitment just to get in the door.

    Awards
    Address
    122 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  14. Rank 14. Bresca

    Contemporary New American

    Bresca is a Michelin-starred bistro on 14th Street that somehow feels like your neighborhood spot and a special-occasion splurge at the same time. The room is pretty wild, with a moss wall and surreal gold accents that make first-daters and dressed-up regulars feel equally at home. The cooking is genuinely creative without making you feel dumb for enjoying it, and the service hits the rare sweet spot of polished but not precious.

    Awards
    Address
    1906 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  15. Rank 15. minibar by José Andrés

    Contemporary

    José Andrés holds two Michelin stars here, and the room earns every one of them. It's a tasting counter experience where the whole point is that nothing is what it looks like, and the chef's team seems genuinely delighted to watch you figure that out. Sharply dressed servers hover at the edges while guests in their best outfits crowd a curved counter, watching cooks work close enough to touch. Weird, smart, and genuinely fun.

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    Address
    501 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  16. Rank 16. Apéro

    French

    A tiny, candlelit French bistro on P Street where the whole point is champagne and caviar, and nobody's pretending otherwise. Midnight-blue walls, a Persian rug, and a secret garden out back that was made for a first date you want to go well. The rest of the menu is French classics done properly, but the couples and dressed-up regulars in here already know what they came for.

    Awards
    Address
    2622 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Tock
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    On the Way What's Around

  17. Rank 17. Sushi Nakazawa

    Sushi

    Tucked into the back of the Waldorf Astoria, this Michelin-starred omakase room is the kind of place where everyone at the counter is quietly trying to look like they do this all the time. Twenty courses of immaculate nigiri, paced over a couple of unhurried hours, with rice seasoned so precisely it almost feels personal. Splurge for a counter stool over a dining room table if you can. It costs more, but watching the chefs work is half the point.

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    Address
    1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  18. Rank 18. Andy's Pizza

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    Address
    2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW Unit 7000, Washington, DC · Washington
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  19. Rank 19. Oyster Oyster

    American

    A Michelin-starred vegetable tasting menu in Shaw that will make you forget you're not eating meat, and actually mean it. The chef turns local farm produce into nine courses of genuinely surprising food, the kind where a potato or a squash does something you didn't expect. The crowd skews thoughtful and curious rather than preachy about it. You leave feeling weirdly good, which isn't something tasting menus usually pull off.

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    Address
    1440 8th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  20. Rank 20. Obelisk

    Seasonal Italian

    Obelisk has been around forever, serving a five-course prix-fixe of seasonal Italian cooking in a room that feels more like a neighborhood spot than a formal commitment. Which is probably why it draws a younger crowd than you'd expect. The food is honest and unfussy, the antipasti alone justify the trip, and everything from the bread to dessert is made in-house. Clear your evening, though, this one takes its time.

    Awards
    Address
    2029 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Tock
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    On the Way What's Around

  21. Rank 21. Jônt

    American, Japanese

    Ryan Ratino holds two Michelin stars here, and the room earns every one of them. It's a counter-style tasting menu above Bresca, with sharp-suited servers and chefs moving like they choreographed the whole thing. Japanese seafood and wagyu meet flawless French technique, and dessert gets its own dedicated counter. The crowd dresses up and means it. Worth every penny if you're the kind of person who thinks dinner should feel like an event.

    Awards
    Address
    1904 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  22. Rank 22. Shōtō

    Modern Japanese

    Shōtō is a sleek modern Japanese restaurant where the room does half the work, volcanic stone cascading from the ceiling, warm wood everywhere, and lighting dialed to make everyone look suspiciously attractive. It draws the kind of crowd that dresses up without trying too hard. The menu leans on robata grilling and sushi, and the Japanese whiskey list is genuinely impressive, so let the bar be your first stop before you eat.

    Awards
    Address
    1100 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  23. Rank 23. Bourbon Steak

    Awards
    Address
    2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  24. Rank 24. Blue Duck Tavern

    American

    Tucked inside the Park Hyatt, Blue Duck Tavern is an upscale American restaurant with the kind of sprawling, light-filled room that makes everyone look like they have their life together. Glass-enclosed booths, walnut wood, a wood-burning oven anchoring the open kitchen. The crowd skews well-heeled and unhurried, and the menu leans into good American sourcing done with real care. Save room to browse the dessert station and a tea list long enough to require a guide.

    Awards
    Address
    1201 24th Street NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  25. Rank 25. Le Diplomate

    French

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    Address
    1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  26. Rank 26. Centrolina

    Italian

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    Address
    974 Palmer Alley NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  27. Rank 27. The Occidental

    American

    This grand American dining room a block from the White House has been around forever, and a recent overhaul turned it from a dusty landmark into one of the chicest rooms in DC. Olive-green velvet booths, excellent martinis, a menu of oysters and rib eye that somehow feels both timeless and fun. The crowd skews power-lunch and date-night, everybody looking like they have somewhere to be afterward.

    Awards
    Address
    1475 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  28. Rank 28. Rania

    Contemporary Indian

    A Michelin-starred prix-fixe doing contemporary Indian in a way that feels genuinely exciting rather than just dressed up. The kitchen takes the classics seriously and then quietly does something unexpected with them, and the cocktails are built to keep pace with the bold flavors on the plate. The crowd leans date-night and special-occasion, everyone looking like they planned the outfit. Worth every bit of the commitment.

    Awards
    Address
    427 11th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    On the Way What's Around

  29. Rank 29. Chiko

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    Address
    2029 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  30. Rank 30. Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

    Steakhouse

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    Address
    750 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  31. Rank 31. Annabelle

    American

    Annabelle is the rare upscale American spot that actually earns its elegance, tucked into a modest brick building in Kalorama where the vibe inside far outpaces the exterior. A marble bar greets you first, which is the universe's way of saying order a cocktail. The dining room draws a grown-up, well-dressed crowd that knows how to have a good time without making a scene. The seasonal menu changes often enough to keep regulars guessing.

    Awards
    Address
    2132 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  32. Rank 32. Sura

    Thai

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    Address
    2016 P St NW, Ste C1, Washington, DC · Washington
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  33. Rank 33. Astro Beer Hall

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    Address
    1306 G St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  34. Rank 34. RIS

    New American

    Ris Lacoste has been running this upscale New American spot near the West End for years, and it still feels like the neighborhood's living room, if the neighborhood runs on expense accounts and good wine. The room is warm and roomy with enough tucked-away corners that no one feels on display. The menu hits familiar notes but finds ways to surprise you, which is a harder trick than it sounds.

    Awards
    Address
    2275 L St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  35. Rank 35. Quadrant Bar & Lounge

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    Address
    1150 22nd St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  36. Rank 36. Residents Café & Bar

    Contemporary Middle Eastern

    A Bib Gourmand café tucked into a black-painted row house in Dupont, with a shady patio out front and two levels of exposed brick, mid-century stools, and Edison bulbs inside. The menu lands somewhere between a Istanbul kitchen and a European bistro, which sounds chaotic but somehow works. Brunching creative types and after-work regulars both feel at home here, which tells you the vibe is relaxed enough that nobody's trying too hard.

    Awards
    Address
    1306 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  37. Rank 37. Your Only Friend

    American

    A Bib Gourmand sandwich bar that takes the format way more seriously than it has any right to, which turns out to be a good thing. The menu reads like someone who actually knows cocktail bars decided to open a deli instead, and the drinks are genuinely worth ordering. The crowd skews young and neighborhood-casual, the kind of people who appreciate a good sandwich and aren't embarrassed about it.

    Awards
    Address
    1114 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  38. Rank 38. Chang Chang

    Chinese

    Peter Chang is a name DC diners actually know, and his Dupont Circle spot is the kind of sleek, grown-up Chinese restaurant where the food quietly outpaces the room's good looks. The menu plays with Chinese classics in ways that feel elevated without being fussy, and the desserts from pastry chef Pichet Ong are worth saving room for. The crowd runs business-casual with ambitions, the kind of people who definitely Googled the menu first.

    Awards
    Address
    1200 19th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Tock
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  39. Rank 39. Dauphine's

    Cajun & Creole

    Dauphine's is a sprawling, three-level New Orleans-style restaurant that earns its Michelin Bib Gourmand the old-fashioned way: through serious Cajun and Creole cooking that couldn't care less about impressing you. The room is big and buzzy, full of the kind of crowd that orders another round before finishing the first. Go hungry, work through the oysters and the blackened crab, and save room for dessert.

    Awards
    Address
    1100 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  40. Rank 40. Fiola

    Italian

    Fiola is a Michelin-starred Italian tasting restaurant sitting on Pennsylvania Avenue, which means you're eating exceptional pasta roughly halfway between the White House and the Capitol, which feels appropriately dramatic. The room pulls off retro glitz without the stuffiness, and the crowd tends to run toward people who've loosened their ties but not their ambitions. The kitchen does modern regional Italian in a way that makes the classics feel genuinely exciting rather than dutiful.

    Awards
    Address
    601 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  41. Rank 41. Little Sesame

    Middle Eastern Coffee Shop

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    Address
    1828 L St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  42. Rank 42. Zaytinya

    Mediterranean

    José Andrés runs this sleek mezze spot pulling from Greek, Lebanese, and Turkish cooking, and it's earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for good reason. The room feels breezy and modern, full of suits loosening up over spreads and pita alongside groups of friends with no plans to leave anytime soon. Order a bunch of small plates, let things pile up on the table, and let someone else figure out the bill.

    Awards
    Address
    701 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  43. Rank 43. Rasika

    Modern Indian

    Modern Indian done right, in a room loud enough that nobody's listening to your conversation anyway. Rasika pulls in a real cross-section of D.C., from Hill staffers unwinding to couples on a proper date night, and the vibe works for both. The food is confident and unfussy, the kind of cooking that makes you wonder why Indian food ever got saddled with a cheap reputation. Do yourself a favor and order extra naan, because you will run out.

    Awards
    Address
    633 D St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  44. Rank 44. Lutèce

    French

    Georgetown has a lot of restaurants competing for your credit card, but this snug French neo-bistro on Wisconsin earns it. The room does exposed brick and pressed-tin ceilings without feeling like a prop, and the menu is short on purpose, rotating with the seasons. Couples on first and fifth dates fill the place, the cocktails are genuinely good, and the whole thing hums with a warmth that's harder to fake than the décor.

    Awards
    Address
    1522 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  45. Rank 45. Astoria DC

    Sichuan Chinese

    Dupont Circle Sichuan that punches well above its price tag, which is probably why the twenty-somethings here look like they've never left. It's a cool, slightly dimly lit room with a scene to match, and the kitchen backs it up with bold, funky food that earns its Michelin Bib Gourmand. The cumin lamb is the move if you're ordering for yourself. The bar takes walk-ins, which is very good news.

    Awards
    Address
    1521 17th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  46. Rank 46. Pizzeria Paradiso

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    Address
    2003 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  47. Rank 47. Barbouzard

    French

    Glitzy downtown French dining room with serious Riviera energy, which is a fun thing to encounter on K Street. The chef, a DC favorite, loves taking classics somewhere unexpected, like gougères that somehow need even more cheese, or a deconstructed bouillabaisse that earns every bit of the drama. The room runs lunch prix fixes that the office crowd has quietly figured out, and dinner attracts people dressed like they have somewhere to be afterward.

    Awards
    Address
    1700 K St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  48. Rank 48. St. James

    Caribbean

    Modern Caribbean restaurant on 14th Street where the cooking genuinely earns its hype, which is a rare thing. The room has an industrial-cool look softened by color, and the menu is built for sharing, which gives you an excuse to order too much. Start with a rum cocktail, then work through smoky jerk brisket and whatever else the table can handle. The crowd skews date-night and friend-group, dressed up just enough to feel like the evening matters.

    Awards
    Address
    2017 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  49. Rank 49. Yellow

    Levantine

    Georgetown's favorite daytime counter spot runs on Levantine cooking out of a wood-burning oven, and the lines out front aren't ironic. Morning means pastries and shakshuka; afternoon means stuffed pitas and spreads that make you reconsider every sad desk lunch you've ever eaten. The hummus alone earns the trip. By night it flips to table service and a reservation you'll want to grab early.

    Awards
    Address
    1524 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  50. Rank 50. Call Your Mother

    Jewish American

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    1143 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  51. Rank 51. Unconventional Diner

    Modern New American

    It looks like a classic diner, white walls and seafoam booths, but the menu is doing something a little sneakier. This Bib Gourmand spot in Shaw takes comfort-food staples and nudges them just far enough that you feel like you discovered something. Brunch draws the weekend crowd, and the lemon meringue pie has a devoted following. Book ahead, because the locals already figured this one out.

    Awards
    Address
    1207 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    Tock
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    On the Way What's Around

  52. Rank 52. Perry's

    Japanese

    Perry's is an Adams Morgan neighborhood Japanese spot that's been around forever, but the kitchen has quietly become one of the more talked-about in the city. The menu mixes sushi with Japanese comfort food that doesn't play it safe, think fried mochi, katsu burgers, and dumplings that have no business being as good as they are. The crowd is relaxed and local, the kind of place regulars treat like their living room.

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    Address
    1811 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  53. Rank 53. Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi

    Afro-Caribbean

    Kwame Onwuachi is a genuine celebrity-chef name, and his Afro-Caribbean restaurant inside the Salamander Hotel is exactly as cool as that sounds. The menu is built for sharing, with bold, technically sharp plates that somehow also feel personal to DC. The room draws the kind of crowd that dresses up just enough to mean it. The cocktail list, including the non-alcoholic side, is worth your full attention.

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    1330 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  54. Rank 54. The Saga

    Spanish

    Spanish tapas and sharing plates done with a Latin American twist, right next to the Ritz-Carlton in a room so calm and cream-colored it almost dares the food to be interesting. It more than rises to the occasion. The arroz morada alone, a vivid pink rice with roasted vegetables, is worth the trip. The crowd leans date-night polished, the kind of people who ask thoughtful questions about the wine list and mean it.

    Awards
    Address
    1190 22nd St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  55. Rank 55. My Little Chamomile

    Mediterranean

    Tucked into a cobblestone Georgetown alley, this Turkish-Mediterranean spot is the kind of place that makes you feel like you stumbled onto something. The menu leans into home-style cooking, and the "From Mom's Kitchen" section is where you want to spend most of your attention. The bread alone is worth the trip. Expect a crowd of people who look like they know Georgetown well and are very pleased with themselves for finding it.

    Awards
    Address
    3210 Cherry Hill Ln NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  56. Rank 56. Café du Parc

    French

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    1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  57. Rank 57. Rooster & Owl

    American

    A Michelin-starred prix-fixe spot in Columbia Heights where the menu bounces from steakhouse classics to Japanese yam to a pear salad doing a cacio e pepe impression, all in four courses. It sounds chaotic and it kind of is, but the kitchen sticks the landing every time. The crowd leans creative-class, dressed like they read the right newsletters. The bar will even match wines to whatever you end up ordering, which is a genuinely nice touch.

    Awards
    Address
    2436 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  58. Rank 58. Mita

    Vegetarian Peruvian

    Michelin-starred plant-based Peruvian tasting menu in Shaw sounds like a sentence designed to start arguments, but Mita genuinely earns it. The kitchen ranges across Latin America, and the food is inventive without being smug about it. The crowd is curious and mostly sober, here for the ride. Two format options mean you can commit as much as you want. Wear something that says you made a reservation two weeks ago.

    Awards
    Address
    804 V St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  59. Rank 59. Sushi Snob

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    1721 M St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  60. Rank 60. Ceibo

    Uruguayan

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    Address
    2106 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  61. Rank 61. Green Almond Pantry

    Mediterranean

    A tiny Mediterranean lunch counter in Georgetown where you go in for a sandwich and somehow walk out with three containers of lentils and a tart you didn't plan on buying. The focaccia sandwiches are the move, but the fridge case full of ready-to-eat salads and savory pastries is what keeps the neighborhood regulars coming back looking slightly too pleased with themselves.

    Awards
    Address
    3210 Grace St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  62. Rank 62. Tonari

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    Address
    707 6th St NW Washington, DC · Washington
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  63. Rank 63. Grazie Nonna

    American Italian

    Grazie Nonna is a buzzy Italian-American trattoria that treats Sunday-supper nostalgia as a creative starting point rather than an excuse to coast. The vibe is warm and a little loud, the bar is packed with people who came for one drink and stayed for pasta, and the food hits harder than the checkered-tablecloth premise might suggest. Order something saucy and something with breadcrumbs, and you'll leave wondering why your own nonna never pulled this off.

    Awards
    Address
    1100 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  64. Rank 64. Silver Lyan

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    Address
    900 F St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  65. Rank 65. Bindaas

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    Address
    2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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  66. Rank 66. Sequoia

    Awards
    Address
    3000 K St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  67. Rank 67. Vagabond

    Awards
    Address
    1836 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  68. Rank 68. The Bazaar by José Andrés

    Avant-Garde Spanish

    Awards
    Address
    1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  69. Rank 69. The Pembroke

    French

    If a Parisian brasserie and a Mediterranean terrace had a baby and somehow ended up in Dupont Circle, it would look exactly like this. The Pembroke, inside the Dupont Circle Hotel, is a proper sit-down dining room done up in marble, salmon velvet, and more greenery than a greenhouse. The crowd leans date-night and hotel-chic, the menu roams from Dover sole to lamb tagine without apology, and honestly it all works.

    Awards
    Address
    1500 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  70. Rank 70. Maxwell Park Shaw

    Awards
    Address
    1336 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  71. Rank 71. Oyamel

    Mexican

    José Andrés runs this lively Mexican spot near the National Mall, and it draws a faithful crowd of off-duty staffers and tourists who've done their homework. Pull up a stool at the ceviche bar, order something cold, and graze through small plates that take regional Mexican cooking seriously without making you feel like you're in a lecture. The happy hour menu is a genuinely good deal in a city that doesn't always bother.

    Awards
    Address
    401 Seventh St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  72. Rank 72. Karizma

    Modern Indian

    Modern Indian in Penn Quarter with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and it earns it. Karizma is a proper sit-down restaurant where the cooking takes Indian cuisine seriously without taking itself too seriously, so the room stays lively rather than hushed. The naan alone is worth the trip. The drinks menu, including some genuinely good alcohol-free options, is more creative than you'd expect, so don't just default to beer.

    Awards
    Address
    611 I St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  73. Rank 73. Jane Jane

    Awards
    Address
    1705 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  74. Rank 74. Hank's Oyster Bar

    Seafood

    Dupont Circle's favorite neighborhood seafood bar has been around for years, and the front patio alone is worth showing up for. Old Bay on the table before you even order tells you exactly where this is going: lobster rolls, creamy chowder, raw bar platters, oysters done every way imaginable. The crowd is the kind that actually lives in the neighborhood and comes twice a week, which is usually a good sign.

    Awards
    Address
    1624 Q St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  75. Rank 75. Cranes

    Spanish/Japanese

    Awards
    Address
    724 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  76. Rank 76. Raw Omakase

    Omakase Sushi

    Tucked on the third floor above a restaurant on 14th Street, this tiny omakase counter fits fewer than ten people, so getting a seat already feels like an achievement. The chef runs two seatings a night and moves through a tight, seasonal progression of nigiri that earns every penny of the price. The aged sake list is genuinely worth exploring. Dress sharp, arrive curious, and don't be late.

    Awards
    Address
    1326 14th St NW, FL 3, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  77. Rank 77. 2Fifty

    Barbecue

    Counter-service BBQ done with serious conviction, 2Fifty smokes everything over wood until it's exactly right, and the room fills up fast with people who drove across town on purpose. The brisket and smoked turkey are the main reasons to show up, though the sides hold their own. Order more than you think you need, grab a spot if you can find one, or just take the whole fragrant haul home.

    Awards
    Address
    414 K St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  78. Rank 78. Reveler's Hour

    Italian

    Cozy Adams Morgan wine bar and pasta spot that feels like a date night even when you're just catching up with a friend. The housemade pasta is the reason to come, the natural wine list is the reason to stay, and the sommelier owner will talk you into a bottle you've never heard of and will immediately want a case of. Snug tables, arched ceilings, and a crowd dressed just well enough to feel like they tried.

    Awards
    Address
    1775 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  79. Rank 79. Seven Reasons

    Caribbean

    A gorgeous bi-level restaurant on H Street where the kitchen pulls from Venezuela, Peru, and the Caribbean to put together plates that look almost too good to eat. The crowd skews date-night and special-occasion, people dressed up just enough to feel like they made an effort. Portions are generous and flavors are bold, which is a more welcome surprise than it sounds at this price point.

    Awards
    Address
    931 H St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  80. Rank 80. Planta Queen

    Pan-Asian Chinese

    Awards
    Address
    1200 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  81. Rank 81. Das Ethiopian Cuisine

    Ethiopian

    Ethiopian food in a Georgetown townhouse sounds like a fever dream, but Das pulls it off beautifully. It's a proper sit-down restaurant with a menu that swings from classic Ethiopian comfort dishes to things that'll genuinely catch you off guard. The injera is the move, ideal for scooping through the combination sampler. Vegetarians are well covered too. The room draws a relaxed, well-dressed crowd, and the staff treats everyone like a regular.

    Awards
    Address
    1201 28th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  82. Rank 82. Tabard Inn

    Southern French

    Awards
    Address
    1739 N St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  83. Rank 83. Michele’s

    French-inspired New American

    The name over the door is the chef's late mother's, and that warmth shows up in the cooking. This brasserie inside the Eaton Hotel draws a laid-back hotel crowd plus locals who figured out it's better than it has to be, doing French-touched American comfort food that skips the fussiness. Think Gulf Coast flavors and New Orleans soul, with smashburgers and crawfish pasta sharing the menu without any apology. Great for a low-key dinner when you want good food without a dress code.

    Awards
    Address
    1201 K St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  84. Rank 84. Gemini × Happy Ice Cream

    Mediterranean Italian

    The team behind a beloved Mediterranean tasting room that closed during the pandemic channeled all that energy into this standing-room pizza, pasta, and wine counter, and honestly that's everyone's gain. The cooking is quietly meticulous, the kind where even a griddled pita feels considered. Grab a glass of something orange, lean against whatever surface you can find, and let the room full of regulars who know exactly what they're doing make you feel like you're in on something.

    Awards
    Address
    1509 17th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  85. Rank 85. Un je ne sais Quoi...

    Awards
    Address
    1361 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    On the Way What's Around

  86. Rank 86. Compliments Only

    Awards
    Address
    2029 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  87. Rank 87. Eatopia Eatery

    Ethiopian

    Awards
    Address
    1301 U St NW, Ste 111, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  88. Rank 88. Maydān

    Middle Eastern

    The open fire at the center of this Middle Eastern restaurant isn't just for atmosphere, it does most of the actual cooking, and you can tell. Go for the prix-fixe and let the spreads, grilled meats, and rice pudding arrive in waves while you work through the cocktail list. The crowd leans date-night and special-occasion, everyone looking slightly more dressed up than they needed to but not mad about it.

    Awards
    Address
    1346 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  89. Rank 89. Karma Modern Indian

    Modern Indian

    Awards
    Address
    611 I St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  90. Rank 90. Medina

    Awards
    Address
    1328 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  91. Rank 91. Call Your Mother

    Jewish American

    Awards
    Address
    1471 P St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  92. Rank 92. Cucina Morini

    Italian

    A Sicilian-leaning trattoria in NoMa where the bar crowd spills into every corner and the energy never really dips. The kitchen makes its pasta in-house and offers half portions, which is the kind of move that actually lets you eat well instead of committing to one bowl and having regret. Comfort food done with real skill, and a room full of after-work regulars who clearly know something you don't yet.

    Awards
    Address
    901 Fourth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  93. Rank 93. Elmina

    Ghanaian

    Eric Adjepong runs this stylish Ghanaian restaurant on 14th Street, and it's the kind of place that makes you wonder why West African food hasn't had a bigger moment in this city until now. You can do a full tasting menu or graze from the bar menu, which riffs on Ghana's casual chop-bar tradition. The room draws a well-dressed crowd that clearly did their research, and nobody looks like they're in a hurry to leave.

    Awards
    Address
    2208 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  94. Rank 94. Lapis

    Afghan

    Afghan food done with real care, in a room full of vintage rugs and hurricane lamps that practically beg you to linger over another cocktail. This is a cozy sit-down restaurant in Adams Morgan with a Michelin Bib Gourmand to its name, and the cooking is lighter and more fragrant than you might expect. The crowd skews date-night and clearly knows the menu well. Order the dumplings and whatever rice dish they're pushing, and don't skip dessert.

    Awards
    Address
    1847 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  95. Rank 95. Casamara

    Mediterranean

    Awards
    Address
    1337 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  96. Rank 96. Isla

    Caribbean

    Awards
    Address
    1100 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  97. Rank 97. TallBoy

    Awards
    Address
    1239 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  98. Rank 98. Supra

    Georgian Eastern European

    Georgian food is having a moment, and Supra is the reason to care. It's a proper sit-down restaurant with an elegant dining room that somehow also has sheep hats hanging on the walls, which tells you everything about the balance they're going for. The khachapuri, a bread boat filled with molten cheese and a runny egg, is the dish that'll have you reconsidering all your life choices. The wine list pulls from one of the oldest wine regions on earth.

    Awards
    Address
    1205 11th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  99. Rank 99. Upstate FTW

    If someone asks where to get Buffalo wings in DC, this is your answer. Upstate FTW is a bar tucked inside the U Street spot Sport & Social, run by a chef who grew up in upstate New York and clearly has something to prove. The wings are crispy, properly sauced, and the result of a multi-day prep process that you won't taste so much as feel. The crowd is exactly what U Street suggests: loud, happy, not thinking about calories.

    Awards
    Address
    1314 U St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  100. Rank 100. Tail Up Goat

    Caribbean

    Awards
    Address
    1827 Adams Mill Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

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