Alice Levitt

With Memorial Day in the rearview, summer has finally descended on the District. It’s not quite swampy yet for mosquitoes, but we’ve already had our first thunderstorms, and the oddly cold weather has abated and given way to that sweet steaminess that marks the warmest season here. It’s not quite dire enough to hide inside the shelter of air-conditioned buildings, so I’m doing all the outdoor dining I can handle before heat and bugs chase me inside.  Part of what makes me love this city is the sense of togetherness and community, which permeates the restaurant scene. We’re a city of curious people who celebrate diverse cultures and take pride in doing so. The best restaurants in D.C. evoke this feeling of home and are safe spaces for you to be yourself around the people you love—all of which is especially grounding in chaotic times. The new additions to this list offer homey atmospheres. They’re celebrations of cultural cuisine that double as really great spots to make new memories with your loved ones. They include one longtime favorite and one newcomer that feels like it's destined to become a beloved staple. This June, make it your mission to eat at restaurants that make you feel like you belong. Read on for the 21 best restaurants in Washington, D.C. right now. June 2025: In this latest update, which highlights the best D.C. restaurants this month, we have added Mélange Food, Inc. and El Tamarindo. This guide was updated by D.C.-based writer Helen Carefoot. At Time Out, a

The 2010s vogue for food trucks may be over, but we still love a mobile meal. And no one does it better than our favorite Mexican chefs. Since long before food trucks exploded across America's urban centers, taco trucks have dotted our streets, exuding the aromas of sizzling meat. But as our palates have become more sophisticated, so have Mexican food trucks in the U.S. These days, it’s not enough to be a taco generalist. Many of our favorite vendors place a keen focus on a particular style or dish, tempting diners to their business in an increasingly crowded field. From birria to campechana, tacos arabes to Sonoran hot dogs, these are among the 10 best Mexican food trucks in the United States.

We all know Medieval Times, Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe. Each is strong evidence that America loves a restaurant with a theme. Yes, there are the big chains like the aforementioned eateries, but when it comes to the true, kitschy glory of dining room theater, many of the best are either standalone restaurants or just a few regional locations. What makes a themed restaurant? The answer can owe to a unique atmosphere, a firmly focused menu or both. Whether it’s your goal to make a meal of three courses of chocolate, eat inside a grounded airplane or tempt your medical fate with grossly oversized burgers, these are the spots for you. Take a great American road trip from the Boston suburbs to Los Angeles, all while eating at the best themed restaurants in the U.S. RECOMMENDED: The best fast food restaurants in the U.S.The best themed restaurants and bars in New York

Chef power couple Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss bring their culinary cred to the cuisine of her homeland with this creative Mexican restaurant. The live-fire hearth at Pascual is responsible for the kiss of flame that touches nearly everything that emerges from the kitchen here. That includes tacos al pastor carved from the turning trompo, meaty lamb neck barbacoa, and even skate. Coss got her start baking at Mexico City’s venerated Pujol, so don’t skip desserts like her Mexican chocolate cake.

Immigrants from Africa and Asia color the vibrant food of Trinidad. In the U Street Corridor, restaurateur Jeanine Prime shares the diverse influences in an upscale form. Start with callaloo soup, a collection of puréed greens that’s spiked with chiles, calmed with coconut milk, then topped with a liberal handful of lump crab meat. Large plates like the whole fried snapper and smoked “dino” beef rib necessitate sharing with someone you love.

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 of Jose Andres’ 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 (like cod roe spaghetti and a grilled avocado) and inventive cocktails (like a spherified sake bomb floating in a glass of Sapporo beer.)

When chef Fabio Trabocchi opened Fiola in 2011, he quickly established his new trattoria as the place to go in Washington for exquisite, sumptuous Italian. Pastas, naturally, are the stars of the menu, especially the tender pappardelle with bolognese ragu. But seafood plays a strong supporting role, and the bar offers a serious cocktail menu, including six different variations on the negroni. An order of bomboloni—Sardinian-style ricotta donuts—is a fitting end to a decadent evening.

Smack in the middle of Adams Morgan aka Party Central lies Perry's, nestled away one street over on (slightly) quieter Columbia Rd, NW. Step inside and you'll find a lively scene and a kitchen that serves an array of well-executed sushi prepared downstairs, where a classic wood-paneled dining room offers a more sedate setting for unwinding. Along with sushi, the menu features a short list of New American starters and entrées, with such favorites as seasonal heirloom tomato salad, grilled swordfish steak with lemon chutney and the chef’s veg platter. Perry's drag queen brunch is offered every Sunday. The fixed price includes all you can eat and dancers to entertain you. Arrive early for the show.

Chef Jeremiah Langhorne (formerly the chef de cuisine at the much-lauded McCrady’s in Charleston, S.C.) takes a near-obsessive approach to local sourcing at his long-awaited 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 much more chic—with dark wood floors and tables and rafted ceilings. The open kitchen is anchored by a wood-burning oven that churns out new dishes on a daily basis.