The Top 100 Places to Eat Near Peter Chang

Updated July 18, 2026

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  1. Rank 1. Peter Chang

    Chinese

    Awards
    Address
    2503 E North Harrison Street, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  2. Rank 2. A Modo Mio

    Awards
    Address
    5555 Langston Blvd, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  3. Rank 3. Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

    Awards
    Address
    2150 N Culpeper St, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  4. Rank 4. 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

  5. Rank 5. Ellie Bird

    Contemporary New American

    Ellie Bird is a casual neighborhood spot in Falls Church where the menu refuses to stay in its lane, in the best possible way. The chef behind Rooster & Owl mixes global flavors without making a big deal of it, so rigatoni Bolognese sits next to a grilled hamachi rice bowl like they've always been friends. Brunch pulls the same trick. It's the kind of place where families and young couples all look equally happy, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.

    Awards
    Address
    125 Founders Ave, Falls Church, VA · Falls Church
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  6. Rank 6. 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
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  7. Rank 7. 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

  8. Rank 8. 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

  9. Rank 9. 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

  10. Rank 10. Peking Gourmet Inn

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

  11. Rank 11. Rice Paper

    Vietnamese

    Awards
    Address
    6775 Wilson Blvd, Falls Church, VA · Falls Church
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  12. Rank 12. 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

  13. Rank 13. 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

  14. Rank 14. Rasika

    Indian

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

  15. Rank 15. Bourbon Steak

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

  16. Rank 16. 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

  17. Rank 17. 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

  18. Rank 18. 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

  19. Rank 19. 2 Amys

    Pizza

    Awards
    Address
    3715 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  20. Rank 20. 2941 Restaurant

    French

    Awards
    Address
    2941 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA · Falls Church
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  21. Rank 21. 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

  22. Rank 22. 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

  23. Rank 23. The Falls

    Mid-Atlantic

    Awards
    Address
    370 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA · Falls Church
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  24. Rank 24. 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

  25. Rank 25. SER Restaurant

    Spanish

    Awards
    Address
    1110 North Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  26. Rank 26. 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

  27. Rank 27. 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

  28. Rank 28. 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

  29. Rank 29. 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

  30. Rank 30. Joon

    Persian

    Persian food done with real care and zero shortcuts, in a room that works for both a family dinner and a date you're hoping goes well. Joon is an upscale restaurant that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about a cuisine that doesn't get nearly enough credit. The rice alone is worth the trip, and the stews are the kind of thing you'll still be thinking about on the drive home.

    Awards
    Address
    8045 Leesburg Pike, Ste 120, Vienna, VA · Vienna
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  31. Rank 31. Nue

    Vietnamese

    Nue is a modern Vietnamese restaurant that makes a strong case for the 30-minute trek to Falls Church. The dining room leans into impressionist pastels and florals, which sounds like a lot but somehow works, and the cocktails are the kind people photograph before tasting. The crowd skews date-night and special-occasion, dressed up just enough. The food is genuinely creative without being weird about it, which is harder to pull off than it looks.

    Awards
    Address
    944 W Broad St Falls Church, VA · Falls Church
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  32. Rank 32. Call Your Mother

    Bakery

    Awards
    Address
    6232 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA · Mc Lean
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  33. Rank 33. 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

  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
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  35. Rank 35. 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

  36. Rank 36. Chiko

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

  37. Rank 37. 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

  38. Rank 38. Cafe Colline

    Awards
    Address
    4536 Cherry Hill Rd, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  39. Rank 39. Jetties

    Awards
    Address
    1609 Foxhall Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  40. Rank 40. Modan Restaurant

    Japanese

    Awards
    Address
    1788 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA · Mc Lean
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  41. Rank 41. 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

  42. Rank 42. 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

  43. Rank 43. 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

  44. Rank 44. Amazonia

    Amazonian Peruvian

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

  45. Rank 45. Astro Beer Hall

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

  46. Rank 46. 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

  47. Rank 47. Tail Up Goat

    Caribbean

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

  48. Rank 48. Rose Ave Bakery

    Bakery

    Awards
    Address
    4465 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  49. Rank 49. 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

  50. Rank 50. Bostan Uyghur Cuisine

    Uyghur Chinese

    Awards
    Address
    3911 Langston Blvd, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  51. Rank 51. Ometeo

    Afghan Middle Eastern

    Awards
    Address
    1640 Capital One Dr, McLean, VA · Mc Lean
    Online
    Instagram
    On the Way What's Around

  52. Rank 52. Bread Furst

    Awards
    Address
    4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  53. Rank 53. 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

  54. Rank 54. 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
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  55. Rank 55. 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

  56. Rank 56. 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

  57. Rank 57. Sababa

    Israeli Middle Eastern

    The hummus here has its own listing as a daily special, which tells you everything about how seriously this place takes the food. It's a lively Israeli small-plates spot in Cleveland Park where the Mediterranean tiles and good wine list keep the vibe loose, but the kitchen keeps things focused. Order the salatim plate to start, pile the table with small plates, and plan to stay longer than you meant to.

    Awards
    Address
    3311 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  58. Rank 58. Chiko

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

  59. Rank 59. Pizzeria Paradiso

    Awards
    Address
    3282 M St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  60. Rank 60. Little Blackbird Wine Bar

    Awards
    Address
    3309 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  61. Rank 61. Pizzeria Paradiso

    Awards
    Address
    4850 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  62. Rank 62. BlackSalt

    Seafood

    Half fish market, half seriously good seafood restaurant, BlackSalt sits in a quiet corner of DC that doesn't scream "destination dining," but it earns the trip. The menu pulls from coastlines all over the place without ever feeling restless, and the shellfish alone will make you rethink your lunch plans. The crowd tends toward neighborhood regulars who clearly know something the tourists don't.

    Awards
    Address
    4883 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    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. 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

  65. Rank 65. Sequoia

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

  66. Rank 66. 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

  67. Rank 67. Jetties

    Awards
    Address
    3708 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
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    On the Way What's Around

  68. Rank 68. Ellē

    American

    Ellē runs all day and somehow nails every shift. Mornings it's a cozy cafe packed with remote workers and stroller parents; by night it quietly becomes one of the better neighborhood restaurants in the city, with a Michelin Bib Gourmand to back that up. The food is comforting but cleverly put together, the kind of cooking that makes you wonder why everywhere doesn't just do this.

    Awards
    Address
    3221 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    Resy
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  69. Rank 69. Le Diplomate

    French

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

  70. Rank 70. Truong Tien

    Vietnamese

    Tucked deep inside the Eden Center mall, this Vietnamese restaurant feels like you've stumbled onto something you weren't supposed to find. The staff speaks mostly Vietnamese and the menu descriptions leave a lot to the imagination, but the regulars around you never look uncertain. Go for the rice-cake and tapioca-dumpling appetizers, then the spicy lemongrass noodle soup, which is exactly as good as everyone at the next table is making it look.

    Awards
    Address
    6763 Wilson Blvd, Unit 6D, Falls Church, VA · Falls Church
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  71. Rank 71. 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

  72. Rank 72. 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

  73. Rank 73. Sura

    Thai

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

  74. Rank 74. 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

  75. Rank 75. Lapis Afghan Bistro

    Afghan Middle Eastern

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

  76. Rank 76. La Tejana

    Mexican

    A Bib Gourmand breakfast taco counter that started as a pop-up and wisely never left. The flour tortillas here are genuinely special, warm and soft in a way that makes you realize most places have been doing it wrong. Fillings run from eggs and beans to chorizo and brisket, and the whole operation is fast, cheap, and no-reservations. Mt. Pleasant regulars in hoodies fill the line most mornings, and honestly they have the right idea.

    Awards
    Address
    3211 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  77. Rank 77. Centrolina

    Italian

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

  78. Rank 78. 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

  79. Rank 79. 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

  80. Rank 80. Ceibo

    Uruguayan

    Awards
    Address
    2106 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  81. Rank 81. 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

  82. Rank 82. Padaek

    Laotian Thai

    Padaek is the homestyle Laotian spot that helped put the cuisine on the map in DC, which is a real thing that happened and you should take advantage of. Expect punchy lime salads, fragrant soups, and banana-leaf-wrapped fish, the kind of cooking that tastes like someone's mom made it but with serious skill behind it. The crowd knows what they're doing and so does the kitchen.

    Awards
    Address
    6395 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church, VA · Seven Corners
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  83. Rank 83. Queen's English

    Chinese

    A cozy Columbia Heights neighborhood spot doing inventive Hong Kong-inspired cooking at prices that won't wreck your night. The room is small and quietly stylish, with blue banquettes and geometric screens giving everyone a little privacy, and the Michelin Bib Gourmand crowd filling the place most nights. High-heat wok dishes that actually taste like someone's been thinking hard, not just showing off.

    Awards
    Address
    3410 11th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Reserve
    OpenTable
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  84. Rank 84. Stellina Pizzeria

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

  85. Rank 85. Purple Patch Food & Drink

    Filipino

    Awards
    Address
    3155 Mount Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  86. Rank 86. 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

  87. Rank 87. Medina

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

  88. Rank 88. Quadrant Bar & Lounge

    Awards
    Address
    1150 22nd St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  89. Rank 89. Maison Bar À Vins

    Awards
    Address
    1834 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  90. Rank 90. Cana

    Brazilian

    A tiny caipirinha bar in Adams Morgan that somehow nails both the drinks and the food, which is rarer than it sounds. The crowd is loose and loud, vinyl's on the turntable, and everyone at every table has ordered the picanha steak. The charcoal oven turns out serious food, and the fried tapioca squares with spicy guava dipping sauce are the kind of snack you keep reordering without meaning to.

    Awards
    Address
    2412 18th St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  91. Rank 91. Fiola Mare

    Italian-influenced Seafood

    Waterfront fine dining on the Potomac, where the terrace view alone does half the heavy lifting. The Italian-influenced seafood is genuinely special, and the service runs like a very expensive clock. Dinner gets pricey fast, so lunch is the move if you want the full experience without the full consequence. The crowd skews dressed-up and celebratory, the kind of people who ordered dessert wine before they sat down.

    Awards
    Address
    3050 K St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    Website
    On the Way What's Around

  92. Rank 92. Padaek

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

  93. Rank 93. Andy's Pizza

    Awards
    Address
    2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW Unit 7000, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  94. Rank 94. 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

  95. Rank 95. Neutral Ground Bar and Kitchen

    Awards
    Address
    6641 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA · Mc Lean
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  96. Rank 96. Queen Mother’s Kitchen

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

  97. Rank 97. Call Your Mother

    Jewish American

    Awards
    Address
    3428 O St NW, Washington, DC · Washington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  98. Rank 98. Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe

    Awards
    Address
    672 N Glebe Rd, Unit 1, Arlington, VA · Arlington
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

  99. Rank 99. 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

  100. Rank 100. Fava Pot

    Egyptian

    The smell hits you before you've even found a seat, like someone's mom has been at the stove since morning. Fava Pot is a homestyle Egyptian restaurant in Falls Church where the owner greets you like you're late to dinner, not a stranger walking in off the highway. The menu is genuinely vast and comforting, and the fava-bean falafel alone is reason enough to make the trip.

    Awards
    Address
    7393 D Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA · Falls Church
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    On the Way What's Around

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