The 39 best restaurants in Washington, D.C. right now

Local chef Aaron Silverman’s two-story Barrack’s Row joint is worth every bit of buzz it gets. The menu is Southern meets Jewish meets Japanese meets French meets Thai meets your grandmother’s home cooking (the restaurant is named after Silverman's paternal grandmother), and changes often. The days of Rose's not taking reservations are over, but not a drop of charm has been lost. 

Ben’s Chili Bowl, which opened in 1958, looks like a relic on the yuppified stretch of U Street once known as Black Broadway. But this 100-percent wind-powered business has kept up with the times. The family-owned institution’s appeal rests on three legs: nostalgia (past customers include Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Barack Obama), the insatiable late-night hunger of young partiers, and, of course, the great bang for the buck afforded by burgers, fries, and chili. In-the-know customers order chili on a dog or half-smoke (arguably Washington’s signature specialty) and cheese fries, but you can also get a turkey sub or a veggie burger.

Husband-and-wife team Todd Gray and Ellen Kassof's Equinox exemplify how plant-based dishes can thrill. The menu isn't entirely vegan, as it's divvied into market and plant-based selections, but it's easy enough to ignore the meat or fish and select veggie-only options. Well, 'easy' is a relative term, as everything on the menu is delicious. Visit the premise on Sundays to enjoy the famous vegan buffet brunch. 

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A little off the beaten path for downtown visitors, Comet’s blistery thin-crust pizzas and warehouse chic vibe are worth the trip to upper Connecticut Avenue. A rousing game of table tennis is also a draw—the restaurant’s back room is home to several tables. A kid-heavy crowd early in the evenings gives way to hipsters, artists, and musicians (your server is probably at least one of those) as the night progresses. They all come for the wood-fired pizzas, undoubtedly some of the best in the capital.

Slightly off the main drag at the Union Station end of H Street, Ethiopic is probably D.C.’s best Ethiopian restaurant. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike can find something they enjoy here, from lamb and lentils to baklava. The decor blends traditional elements of Ethiopian culture, like Ge’ez’s scripts, with more contemporary designs. 

Walking into Jimmy T’s is like walking into a living room straight out of the 1970s. That’s because not much has changed since the diner opened in 1969. This true greasy spoon is a Capitol Hill favorite that serves up the basics, just like mom used to make. The prices can’t be beaten, and it’s a small joint, so politicians and regular folks rub elbows over breakfast and lunch.

Busboys & Poets is an exciting space in and of itself. Located at the corner of 14th and U Streets NW, it was established in 2005 by Andy Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist, restaurateur, and activist, in an area with a history of 1960s Civil Rights activism. With communal tables, sofas, and cushy chairs, Busboys is the ultimate urban living room, where people meet for coffee or drinks or a snack between meals. Open-mic poetry readings, live music, and book discussions are also on the menu.

From the globe lights overhead and the wood floors underfoot to the woven bistro chairs and the curieux that adorn the walls—almost everything you can touch or see or even hear in restaurateur-impresario this brasserie is literally imported from France itself. Note that your inner Francophile may have to wait one month for a weekend reservation. In the meantime, hit up Le Diplomate’s brunch, when seats are less in demand, but the food is just as good. C’est bon!

When chef Fabio Trabocchi opened Fiola in 2011, he quickly established the trattoria as the place to go in Washington for exquisite, sumptuous Italian. This Michelin star marvel is a grand celebration of beauty and brilliance, where every dish is almost as photogenic as it is delicious. This is food, after all...

This pearl of the Georgetown waterfront comes from Fabio Trabocchi, the same deft chef behind Fiola. It’s hard to focus on your meal with welcome distractions like docking boats or glistening chandeliers in the opulent dining room (maritime kitsch need not apply). For the full rigmarole, order a seafood tower that puts Pisa to shame. The stack is brimming with cooked and raw shellfish, bivalves, and more, served chilled atop crushed ice. This is definitely the place for a special occasion—with a price tag to match.

Marcel’s is the kind of restaurant you’d expect to find on Pennsylvania Avenue: exquisite food, beautifully served in a sumptuous dining room by adept professionals. Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s Flemish-inflected French fare manages the classical balance of taste and textures: subtle versus sharp-flavored, savory versus sweet, generous versus leaving you wanting more. The servers get extra points for friendliness: even if you’re not one of the place’s traditional, old-money clients, they’ll still treat you as if you were.

Izakaya Seki is tucked into an unassuming and narrow two-floor row house. Choose to eat upstairs in the dining room or downstairs at the chef’s bar, as either choice is equally no-frills; coat hooks are just about the only décor. Once seated, you’ll be hard-pressed not to salivate, either over plates arriving at neighboring tables or by what the robata cooks behind the bar are turning over a low flame. The chef’s rotating sashimi selection is explosively rich (note: the wasabi here is fresh), and the seasonal miso soup is not to be missed. The handwritten specials menu offers an extra layer of character to this brilliant spot.

Chef Jeremiah Langhorne (formerly the chef de cuisine at the much-lauded McCrady’s in Charleston) takes a near-obsessive approach to local sourcing at his mid-Atlantic restaurant in Blagden Alley. His dishes come steeped in history and are made primarily using produce grown (and foraged) nearby, including the rooftop garden. The interior feels almost barn-ish—albeit chicer—with dark wood floors, tables, and rafted ceilings. The open kitchen is anchored by a wood-burning oven that churns out new dishes daily.

The sister joint to Jose Andres's minibar, barmini offers a robust lineup of 100 cocktails on its menu at any time. Roughly half of that space is allocated to classics, with the other half showcasing original concoctions by the bartending team. The funky, modern, and bright environs perfectly complement the fun and creative vibe, where anything from vapor clouds to liquid nitrogen, from leather bota bag aging to sous-vide cooking and color-changing cocktails are put to use for your entertainment.

Sushi Taro is an upmarket Kaiseki-style traditional Japanese restaurant, under brother owners Nobu and Jin Yamazaki. In a kaiseki-style meal, diners don’t order off a menu. Instead, the chef presents a succession of complementary dishes. The Suppon Kaiseki Tasting menu is fantastic, and there is also an excellent saké selection.

With two locations in the city, Rasika brings the delicacy of upmarket Indian cooking to Washington. One of restaurateur Ashok Bajaj’s empire, which also includes Bombay Club, Annabelle, and La Bise, the Penn Quarter Rasika is under the creative eye of Vikram Sunderam, who ran the kitchen at London’s Bombay Brasserie for 14 years. The menu covers much ground, with ample choices for vegetarians and carnivores. 

Thank goodness chef Katsuya Fukushima was never told to stop playing with his food. (Or if he was, thank goodness he didn’t listen.) The former culinary director at Jose Andres’s ThinkFoodGroup has so many good ideas he opened two restaurant concepts under one roof. Downstairs: a Sapporo-style ramen shop set to a soundtrack of ’90s music and satisfied slurps. Upstairs: a fast-paced izakaya with clever small plates and inventive cocktails.

Cozy doesn’t begin to describe this rustic corner bistro in Bloomingdale. The Red Hen is essentially one huge hearth, thanks to the wide-open kitchen’s Argentine-style grill, which runs on 100 percent Virginia oak. Most of the Italian-leaning dishes make a pit stop in the fire before hitting your plate, but best of all is chef Michael Friedman’s handmade rigatoni with sausage ragu; it will have you throwing all your carb cares to the wind.

Pearl Dive has a menu that really struts its Gulf Coast roots. Owners Jeff and Barbara Black hail from the South and were some of the first restaurateurs to tap into Washington’s bivalve addiction. Pearl Dive offers a variety of both East and West Coast oysters, all of which come expertly shucked (read: you won’t mistakenly find any shell fragments in your mouth) and served with a cilantro-jalapeño “dive sauce.” For a real treat, ask for a list of the premium oysters available. 

Though you’re likely to eat your face off at 2 Amys, consider grabbing a snack beforehand: The secret is out on this Cleveland Park restaurant, and wait times can stretch over an hour. But the Neapolitan pies, which meet Italy’s precise Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) standards, are worth it. 2 Amys tends to draw a family crowd, so anticipate a seat next to a marinara-flinging toddler. Embrace it.

Bombay Club evokes not the multihued Mumbai of today but India in the time of the Raj when English colonizers would sit in restrained, masculine dining rooms and, presumably, cherry-pick the best of the subcontinent’s cuisine. Decorous waiters in penguin suits warn against the supposed heat of a non-threatening lamb vindaloo. Thali platters, tandoori meats, and Goan curries are also available, and the menu offers discreet explanations of the various regional styles.

Etto is a 14th Street darling, where small plates are shared amongst friends is the name of the game. This is a very good thing, as you’ll be hard-pressed to choose just one of the displayed antipasti you’ll spot on the way to one of the restaurant’s 42 seats. The entire space radiates warmth (from the oak-fueled fire in the corner) and aromas of freshly milled flour (from the hand-crank grain mill at the back of the restaurant). 

An American-French restaurant at City Market, Convivial has a French accent that makes dishes hard to pronounce, but they are an absolute delight to devour. After all, you are here to eat, not talk, right? Reservations are a must, and the Happy Hour offer is great for anyone looking to save a dollar or two.

Unless you score a reservation at this Capitol Hill sushi restaurant, there’s a slim chance you’ll find yourself eating dinner here. Not only is the restaurant teeny, but the secret is out about its incredibly fresh fish and masterfully prepared rolls at bargain prices. Our advice; ask your waiter to pick your dishes rather than opting for the omakase (chef’s menu). They can tell you exactly what they got in that day and what’s worth trying. Also, we’d recommend waiting for a seat at the bar where you can watch your food being prepared instead of sitting at a table.

Inspired by her extensive travels with her husband (an NPR reporter), Rose Previte opened this neighborhood spot to bring global flavors to curious DC diners. The menu reflects the stamps on her passport, taking cues from international street foods. Since day one, the breakout star has been the khachapuri (a popular dish in the country of Georgia), essentially a canoe-shaped piece of bread filled with melted cheese, butter, and egg. The space resembles a garden patio, where patrons are encouraged to linger over destination-driven cocktails like the Sabbath Lily.

Hip twentysomethings squeeze into this tiny spot to slurp big bowls of ramen in rich, house-made broth. The dumplings are great, too—we especially like the grilled pork ones—and there is great saké available. The space is decorated with graffiti, skateboards, and comic books, and for dessert, you can dunk warm chocolate chip cookies in a glass of milk. What’s not to like?

What started as a humble farmers' market stand in 2013 has since blossomed into a wildly popular taco empire. Founded by Suzanne Simon and Bettina Stern, this vegetarian taco restaurant in Georgetown includes the same beloved tacos served on hand-pressed tortillas. The range of tacos is fantastic, with everything from braised mushrooms to scrambled egg and black bean available.

If you’re looking for a decadent splurge and a high probability of a celebrity sighting, head to this modern restaurant from California chef Michael Mina inside Georgetown’s Four Seasons hotel, where steaks are poached in butter and movie stars and power players rub shoulders. The fries are crisped in duck fat and are very, very addictive. The swank bar is a regular hangout for VIP guests and, true to its name, offers a vast selection of rare bourbons and Scotches.

You can see why Michel Richard’s effusive Pennsylvania Avenue brasserie wins rave reviews. The playful menu fuses American and French classics with Richard’s signature whimsy, including "faux" gras (made from chicken liver, not foie gras), a stunning shrimp burger, a spin on fried chicken, and a monstrous banana split sure to attract any nearby spoon.

The menu changes constantly at Peter Pastan’s prix-fixe-only, reservations-required townhouse, depending on what’s fresh and what catches the chef’s fancy. But you can always count on an array of antipasti; pasta, meat, cheese, and dessert courses; and exemplary service. Squab makes regular appearances—it’s worth the awkwardness of dealing with the tiny bones—as do seasonal vegetables and fish. Nominally Italian, the cooking is both Catholic and classical. The wine list is extensive, the bread baked in-house, and the atmosphere unpretentious.

Don’t let the name fool you; nothing about this pub resembles a grocery store. After all, what grocery store has whitewashed brick walls, London street signs, and a front patio with café lights? The short and sweet menu changes daily and is inspired by East London’s eclectic restaurant scene. There are four locations of Duke's Grocery around the city, with the Dupont Circle establishment currently closed for renovations.

NuVegan wants you to eat healthy while enjoying a relaxing environment that is healthy for the soul as well. Choose an entrée or a sandwich from the diverse lineup of 100-percent vegan fare (platters are a big hit) and request a pressed juice, smoothie or shake with your meal. Don’t forget to also try out the eatery’s delicious baked treats.

Sticky Fingers owner Doron Petersan bills herself as a “junk-foodie genius”, and she has the creds to back up that claim—namely, the winning title on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars; twice. Although the original sticky bun remains a favorite, patrons should taste the full lineup of baked goods. Let go and indulge; you deserve it.

The Philadelphia-based fast-casual chain opened its first D.C. area location a few years back and quickly became a crowd favorite, offering tasty, 100-percent plant-based fare. Try the Crispy HipCity Ranch, a battered chick'n sandwich with creamy peppercorn ranch, or the Ziggy Burger, with smoked tempeh and special sauce. Also, find salads, sweet potato fries, dips, juices, and smoothies. Finish your meal with the popular banana whip dessert bowl customized with your choice of toppings. 

Vegans and diners typically don’t mix, but Sticky Fingers Diner (formerly known as Fare Well) is here to change that. Doron Petersan of Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats opened this spot to serve plant-based diner fare to all sorts of eaters, but especially for vegans. Southern fried seitan stands in for chicken, mushroom scampi replaces shrimp, and pierogis are stuffed with flavorful nut cheeses that don’t leave you craving the real thing. Since Petersan is the queen of vegan cupcakes, don’t skip dessert.

This is the perfect place for a quick bite, whether it’s two in the afternoon or two in the morning (beware the long, hungry lines that form in the early hours). The choices at the counter are simplicity itself: small or large? Wholewheat pita or white? Fries with that? (Say yes—they’re the best in town.) You’ll face tough decisions at the extensive toppings bar, which includes hummus, grilled eggplant, marinated cucumber, and more—much more, sadly, than can fit in one pita. This might be the best deal in town.

Freshly baked naan and Thai chicken curry are on offer at this café-style spot. Whether you stop off for a cup of chai or a bento box, you’ll feel ready to pound the pavement again. Afternoon tea with ginger scones and lime curd tartlets can be quite reviving in winter, or in warm weather, try the iced Moroccan mint tea – there’s nothing more refreshing. The spacious 8th Street branch, with its downstairs hideout, has a calmer vibe.

Some patrons claim that the tacos served at Taqueria Nacional taste as good as those in Mexico. Each taco comes made-to-order with fresh corn tortillas. The margaritas and aguas frescas are flowing. Although the menu is affordable and the vibe is casual, this isn’t your typical hole-in-the-wall establishment. The space, formerly a post office, is historic and visually stunning. Weathered walls, mismatched chairs, and a mural of the Virgin Mary are juxtaposed with a glistening chandelier and dazzling string lights.