The Best Middle Eastern Food in Washington
Sections
- Eat , on. Can't turn off the last section 566
- Drink , off. Turn on 46 Only Drink
- Stay , off. Turn on 42 Only Stay
- Do , off. Turn on 9 Only Do
Tap another section to add it. All sections
The best Middle Eastern food in Washington, according to the experts: AAA, James Beard Awards, and Bon Appétit have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Maydān comes out on top.
More Less
Residents Café & Bar and Karravaan hold the next two places. AAA shows up on more of this list than any other guide, with Michelin Guide next.
-
Rank 1. Maydān
Middle Eastern
The open hearth at the center of this Middle Eastern restaurant burns hot enough that you can feel it from across the room, which is by design. Everything here runs through that fire, from the flatbreads to the meats, and the kitchen's control of it is something to watch. Spreads, vegetables, and grilled proteins arrive in a relaxed progression, and the Middle Eastern wine and spirits list is a serious one. On The Washington Post's 40 best D.C. restaurants.
The awards
- AAA AAA: Three Diamonds
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2022 · Nominee · Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
- Bon Appétit Bon Appétit: #2 · America's Best New Restaurants
- AAA Three Diamonds
- James Beard Awards 2022 · Nominee · Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
- Bon Appétit #2 · America's Best New Restaurants
-
Rank 2. Residents Café & Bar
Contemporary Middle Eastern
A black-painted row house in Dupont with a greenery-draped patio sets the stage for this casual-chic café earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Inside, mid-century stools line the bar, exposed brick meets plush seating, and Edison bulbs do their thing without apology. The menu runs contemporary Middle Eastern with European detours, covering brunch through dinner, and the Basque cake dusted with ras el hanout suggests the kitchen knows exactly what it's doing with a cross-cultural wink.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Bib Gourmand
-
Rank 3. Karravaan
Silk Road Middle Eastern
The menu traces the old trade routes from the Middle East through Central Asia, which explains why harissa-glazed duck and a clay tagine can coexist without argument. Karravaan is a sharing-plates restaurant built around bold spice and generous pours of both flavor and portion. House-made flatbread arrives hot enough to matter, and the kitchen leans hard into communal eating. A good call for a group that can't agree on a cuisine but somehow always agrees on more food.
The awards
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
-
Rank 4. River Club
Modern Middle Eastern Cocktail Bar
The awards
-
Rank 5. Bacchus of Lebanon
Lebanese
The awards
- AAA AAA: Approved
-
Rank 5. Me Jana
Lebanese
The awards
- AAA AAA: Approved
-
Rank 7. Little Sesame
Middle Eastern Coffee Shop
The awards
-
Rank 8. Shouk
Middle Eastern
The awards