The Top 100 Places to Eat Near Padaek

Updated July 18, 2026

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  1. Rank 1. Padaek

    Awards
    Address
    2931 S Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  2. Rank 2. Chiko

    Awards
    Address
    4040 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA · Arlington
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    On the Way What's Around

  3. Rank 3. Astro Beer Hall

    Awards
    Address
    4001 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA · Arlington
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    On the Way What's Around

  4. Rank 4. Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique

    Awards
    Address
    576 23rd St S, Arlington, VA · Arlington
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    On the Way What's Around

  5. Rank 5. Stellina Pizzeria

    Awards
    Address
    2800 S Randolph St, Ste 130, Arlington, VA · Arlington
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    On the Way What's Around

  6. Rank 6. Queen Mother’s Kitchen

    Awards
    Address
    1711 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA · Arlington
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    On the Way What's Around

  7. Rank 7. Albi

    Palestinian

    A Michelin-starred live-fire restaurant in Navy Yard where the Palestinian-rooted cooking is genuinely exciting, not just interesting on paper. The open kitchen's hearth runs everything, and the smoke and char show up in every course. Go à la carte if you want, but the tasting menu is the move. The room is warm and lively, the kind of crowd that dressed up a little but not too much, and the wine list leans hard into the Mediterranean.

    Awards
    Address
    1346 Fourth St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  8. Rank 8. 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.

    Awards
    Address
    1330 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  9. Rank 9. 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
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  10. Rank 10. 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
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  11. Rank 11. 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.

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

  12. Rank 12. 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
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  13. Rank 13. 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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  14. Rank 14. 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.

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

  15. Rank 15. Pineapple & Pearls

    New American

    Most tasting menus whisper at you reverently. This Capitol Hill spot with a Michelin star does the opposite, and that's exactly the point. It's a full prix-fixe production with caviar, tableside absinthe, chefs in gold Nikes, and the kind of energy that makes it feel less like fine dining and more like a very well-fed party. The crowd dresses up and leans in. Come hungry, come festive, and don't expect a quiet night.

    Awards
    Address
    715 Eighth St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  16. Rank 16. 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
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  17. Rank 17. Rose's Luxury

    American

    Rose's Luxury holds a Michelin star and somehow still feels like dinner at your most talented friend's place, complete with string lights and an open kitchen. It's a prix fixe spot on Capitol Hill where the cooking is genuinely clever without being smug about it. The crowd is first-daters and regulars who've memorized every course, all equally happy to be there, which tells you everything.

    Awards
    Address
    717 8th St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  18. Rank 18. 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.

    Awards
    Address
    1440 8th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  19. Rank 19. 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
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  20. Rank 20. Amazonia

    Amazonian Peruvian

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

  21. Rank 21. Samuel Beckett’s

    Irish British

    A proper Irish pub in Shirlington that actually earns the word "proper," run by someone from Tipperary who knows what a full Irish is supposed to taste like. The weekend brunch spread comes with rashers, puddings, potato cake, and homemade brown bread, which is the kind of thing that makes you suspicious of every other pub brunch you've ever had. Regulars look like they've been coming since before you were born.

    Awards
    Address
    2800 S Randolph St, Unit 110, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  22. Rank 22. 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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    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  23. Rank 23. Rasika

    Indian

    Awards
    Address
    1190 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  24. Rank 24. 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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  25. Rank 25. 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
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  26. Rank 26. Omakase at Barracks Row

    Japanese

    A 14-seat omakase counter in Capitol Hill that holds a Michelin star and earns every bit of it. The chef sources fish directly from Tokyo's Toyosu market, so each piece of nigiri arrives with a whole origin story attached. The room is intimate enough that the team treats every course like a small ceremony. Regulars tend to wear that slightly reverent look of people who already know what's coming and can't wait anyway.

    Awards
    Address
    522 Eighth St SE Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  27. Rank 27. 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
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  28. Rank 28. Xiquet

    Spanish

    A Michelin-starred fine dining room on the third floor of a Wisconsin Ave townhouse, and yes, it's as intimate as that sounds. The kitchen runs on a wood-fired hearth and channels the flavors of Valencia with real conviction. A handful of tables, dressed-up couples and serious food people who did their research. After dinner the team moves you to a lounge for coffee, which is a very civilized way to end the night.

    Awards
    Address
    2404 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  29. Rank 29. Centrolina

    Italian

    Awards
    Address
    974 Palmer Alley NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    On the Way What's Around

  30. Rank 30. 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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  31. Rank 31. Little Pearl

    Contemporary

    A one-star Michelin tasting menu that won't make your eyes water when the bill arrives, which is a rare thing. The room feels like a sunroom someone accidentally made beautiful, all glass and green views. The cooking is seasonal and genuinely inventive, rotating constantly except for a signature amuse that anchors every meal. First-daters and food people who've done their homework fill the room, all quietly impressed they pulled it off.

    Awards
    Address
    921 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  32. Rank 32. 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.

    Awards
    Address
    1805 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  33. Rank 33. Pascual

    Mexican

    Capitol Hill's hottest reservation right now is this lively, sharing-focused Mexican spot where the cooking feels more Mexico City than D.C. The vegetable dishes are quietly the stars of the table, though the lamb barbacoa will make carnivores very happy. It draws a young, neighborhood crowd who knew early and booked faster than you did. Go with a group, order everything, and sort out the logistics of getting a table before you get excited about going.

    Awards
    Address
    732 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  34. Rank 34. 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
    Reserve
    OpenTable
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    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  35. Rank 35. Landini Brothers

    Awards
    Address
    115 King Street, Alexandria, VA · Alexandria
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  36. Rank 36. 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
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  37. Rank 37. Ama

    Northern Italian

    Awards
    Address
    885 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC · Washington
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    On the Way What's Around

  38. Rank 38. Bourbon Steak

    Awards
    Address
    2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    On the Way What's Around

  39. Rank 39. Fish Shop

    American

    A waterfront seafood restaurant at the Southwest Wharf that actually lives up to its prime real estate. The patio with marina views is the move on a warm day, drawing a casual but put-together crowd who all quietly ordered the same thing. The menu has a Scottish sister spot, which explains why the fish feels more considered than your average dock-side joint, with a clear Mid-Atlantic lean and some genuinely surprising menu choices.

    Awards
    Address
    610 Water St SW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  40. Rank 40. Peking Gourmet Inn

    Awards
    Address
    6029 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA · Falls Church
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  41. Rank 41. 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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  42. Rank 42. 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
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  43. Rank 43. The Duck & the Peach

    American

    Awards
    Address
    300 Seventh St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
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    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  44. Rank 44. 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

  45. Rank 45. Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe

    Awards
    Address
    510 14th St S, Arlington, VA · Arlington
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    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  46. Rank 46. Tonari

    Awards
    Address
    707 6th St NW Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  47. Rank 47. Chloe

    American

    Chloe is a shareable-plates spot in the Navy Yard that pulls ingredients from all over the map and somehow makes it feel like a cohesive meal rather than a confused one. The menu is genuinely eclectic without being gimmicky, which is harder to pull off than it sounds. It draws a well-dressed crowd of people who live nearby and regulars who've clearly memorized the menu. Go hungry, go with friends, and plan on ordering more than you meant to.

    Awards
    Address
    1331 Fourth St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  48. Rank 48. 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
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  49. Rank 49. 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

  50. Rank 50. Shilling Canning Company

    Awards
    Address
    360 Water Street SE Washington, DC · Washington
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  51. Rank 51. Del Mar

    Spanish

    The paella alone, loaded with lobster and giant prawns, justifies making a reservation at this upscale Spanish dining room on the Wharf, where floor-to-ceiling windows look straight out over the Potomac. The room runs coastal blues and polished brass, and the crowd dresses to match. Fabio Trabocchi's kitchen moves between luxury and comfort with ease, from caviar canapés to humble croquetas, and the seafood is rarely anything less than gorgeous.

    Awards
    Address
    791 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  52. Rank 52. 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
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  53. Rank 53. 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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  54. Rank 54. 1789

    French-influenced New American

    A proper sit-down restaurant tucked into a Federal period townhouse in Georgetown, spread across six rooms and three floors like a very elegant maze. The servers have been running this room longer than most guests have been alive, and it shows. The crowd is mostly proud parents treating their Georgetown kid to something nicer than the dining hall, dressed accordingly. The kitchen does French-leaning American classics and does them well.

    Awards
    Address
    1226 36th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  55. Rank 55. 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
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  56. Rank 56. 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

  57. Rank 57. 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.

    Awards
    Address
    1811 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  58. Rank 58. 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
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  59. Rank 59. Bubbie's Plant Burgers & Fizz

    Vegetarian

    Awards
    Address
    1721 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  60. Rank 60. 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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  61. Rank 61. 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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  62. Rank 62. Le Diplomate

    French

    Awards
    Address
    1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
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    On the Way What's Around

  63. Rank 63. 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
    Online
    Instagram
    On the Way What's Around

  64. Rank 64. Astro Beer Hall

    Awards
    Address
    1306 G St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  65. Rank 65. Elcielo Restaurant

    Colombian

    A Michelin-starred fine dining tasting menu that reads as a love letter to Colombia, right next to Union Market. The chef's cooking is personal and theatrical, the kind of place where dishes arrive with a little drama and a story behind them. The crowd leans toward date night and special occasions, everyone dressed up just enough. Go hungry, go curious, and let the warm staff walk you through it.

    Awards
    Address
    1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  66. Rank 66. 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
    On the Way What's Around

  67. Rank 67. 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
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  68. Rank 68. Caruso's Grocery

    Italian

    Awards
    Address
    914 14th St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  69. Rank 69. 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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  70. Rank 70. 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.

    Awards
    Address
    1940 N St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  71. Rank 71. Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

    Steakhouse

    Awards
    Address
    750 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  72. Rank 72. Easy Company

    Awards
    Address
    98 Blair Alley SW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  73. Rank 73. Masseria

    Puglian Italian

    A Michelin-starred tasting restaurant in a converted warehouse that somehow pulls off glamorous and unfussy at the same time. The chef's Puglian roots shape everything, and the pasta and bread courses alone justify the trip. The room draws a well-dressed crowd who came to linger, and the staff seem genuinely happy to let them. The cocktail bar up front is worth a stop on its own if a full tasting feels like a commitment.

    Awards
    Address
    1340 4th St NE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  74. Rank 74. Baan Siam

    Thai

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

  75. Rank 75. 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

  76. Rank 76. I Egg You

    Awards
    Address
    517 8th St SE Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  77. Rank 77. 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

  78. Rank 78. L'Ardente

    Italian

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

  79. Rank 79. 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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  80. Rank 80. Tapori

    Indian

    Awards
    Address
    600 H St NE, Ste E, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  81. Rank 81. Chiko

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

  82. Rank 82. Atlas Brew Works

    Awards
    Address
    2429 Mandeville Ln Alexandria, VA · Alexandria
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  83. Rank 83. 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
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  84. Rank 84. Silver Lyan

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

  85. Rank 85. Josephine

    Awards
    Address
    109 S Saint Asaph St, Alexandria, VA · Alexandria
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  86. Rank 86. 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
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  87. Rank 87. Chiko

    Awards
    Address
    423 8th St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  88. Rank 88. Shia

    Korean

    Edward Lee's 22-seat Korean fine dining room is one of those places where every course makes you wonder why more restaurants don't cook like this. The tasting menu takes traditional Korean ingredients seriously without being stiff about it, and the Korean spirits list goes deep into territory most people have never tried. First-daters and food-curious regulars fill the tiny room, all quietly impressed and pretending they're not.

    Awards
    Address
    1252 4th St NE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  89. Rank 89. Kappo

    Wagyu Omakase Japanese

    A counter-only kappo spot tucked just below street level, serving a focused eight-course tasting menu built around Wagyu and seafood. The kitchen is precise without being fussy, and the whole thing feels intimate in the way that only a handful of seats can. It ends with Wagyu miso soup and rice, which sounds simple but lands like a proper send-off. Bring someone you actually want to talk to, because you're going to be there a while.

    Awards
    Address
    4822 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Tock
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  90. Rank 90. 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

  91. Rank 91. Stracci Pizza

    Awards
    Address
    106 Hume Ave, Alexandria, VA · Alexandria
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  92. Rank 92. Sura

    Thai

    Awards
    Address
    2016 P St NW, Ste C1, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  93. Rank 93. Karma Modern Indian

    Modern Indian

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

  94. Rank 94. La' Shukran

    French, Levantine

    Finding it is half the fun: duck into a Union Market alley, spot the green door, and climb the stairs into a jewel-toned bistro where French technique meets Levantine soul. Chef Michael Rafidi runs one of DC's most genuinely original rooms, all habibi-funk vinyl and cool-kids energy. The menu is built for sharing, the cocktails are saffron-spiked, and snapping a reservation requires actual effort. That's usually a sign.

    Awards
    Address
    417 Morse St NE FL 2 Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  95. Rank 95. Tail Up Goat

    Caribbean

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

  96. Rank 96. 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
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  97. Rank 97. Atlas Brew Works

    Awards
    Address
    1201 Half St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  98. Rank 98. Andy's Pizza

    Awards
    Address
    1201 Half St SE, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  99. Rank 99. Sequoia

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

  100. Rank 100. Cranes

    Spanish/Japanese

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

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