39 Best Restaurants in Washington, D.C., USA

Call it the Brando of D.C. pizzerias, because this Neapolitan sensation has played godfather to a number of throne-stealing wood ovens elsewhere in town since it opened more than a decade ago. Simple recipes allow the ingredients to shine through and make the "wine bar" menu of small Italian plates as exemplary as the pies. You may be tempted to go for the D.O.C. pizza (it has Denominazione di Origine Controllata approval for Neapolitan authenticity), but don't hesitate to try the meatballs, salt cod croquettes, deviled eggs, or really any of the little things. At busy times, there can be a wait for a table, and the noisy din of a packed house may discourage some diners.

Skip the chain bakeries and head to Baked & Wired for their legendary cupcakes (the red velvet is a must), savory scones, and chocolate chip cookies. Any D.C. native will tell you this is one of their favorite spots! Also, coffee lovers will be pleased with all the options on the menu. 

A U Street fixture for decades, Ben's serves chili—on hot dogs, on Polish-style sausages, on burgers, and on its own—to Washingtonians and visitors alike. The shiny, red-vinyl stools give the impression that little has changed since the 1950s (the original location still doesn't accept credit cards), but don't be fooled: this favorite of former President Barack Obama has rocketed into the 21st century with an iPhone app, an upscale Southern cuisine restaurant next door, and menu additions like turkey burgers and meatless chili that nod to modern times. Add cheese fries and a milkshake to your order if you dare. Southern-style breakfast is served from 6 to 10:45 on weekdays and from 7 to 10:45 on Saturday. Ben's has added spots on H Street NE and in Arlington and at Reagan Airport, too.

This spacious restaurant is on the ground floor of the 130-year-old Riggs Bank Building, now known as the Riggs Hotel. The café boasts large Corinthian columns, original stone floors, a sky-high ceiling, and Palladian windows. The menu is as luxurious as its surroundings: an ample raw bar featuring caviar, oysters, and crab. If seafood is not your thing, there are plenty of other choices, like steak frites and duck breast. 

This upscale gastropub chain just a block from the convention center offers more than 40 beers on tap and loads of bottles. The high ceilings, reclaimed wood walls, and copper bar give the large spot a warm, rustic feel. Expect standard American pub comfort food with a few upscale plates like grilled ahi tuna and miso-glazed salmon. There's also a solid brick-oven-pizza selection. It gets a nice crowd, but you never feel crowded in the spacious bar–dining room. The jumping happy hour offers great prices.

Fans of Bravo's Top Chef will first visit this brightly colored burgers-and-shakes joint hoping to spy charismatic celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn, but they will return for the comfort-food favorites (and learn it's a family effort). The lines can be long, as it's a favorite lunch spot of congressional aides, but the Mendelsohns’ inventive burgers are worth the wait (there also are creative salads and Southern-fried chicken sandwiches). After placing your order cafeteria-style, grab several of the fresh dipping sauces for the tasty thyme-and-rosemary-seasoned hand-cut skinny fries or Vidalia onion petals. Just as important, leave room for a toasted marshmallow or Milky Way malted shake that's as thick as the ones you remember from childhood.

Pete's is a locally owned, Friendship Heights landmark, serving "New Haven-style" (thin-crust, coal-fired) pizzas and offering an extensive toppings list. The spacious patio gives you enough room to spread out.

Yes, it's a chain made most famous in New York City, but if you're craving a burger, you can get your fix at the D.C. Chinatown outpost. Juicy burgers with a special sauce, classic fries (get them with cheese), and tasty shakes make it worth the short wait—especially if you're looking for a delicious, reasonably priced lunch between visits to Downtown attractions. Other D.C. Shake Shacks are in Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Union Station, and Nationals Park.

Are you looking for a place featuring local vendors and affordable eats? Check out Western Market, a new food hall close to George Washington University. From Italian hoagies to Venezuelan arepas, you can get a taste of D.C.'s diverse culinary scene. The marketplace tenants consist of an exciting lineup of concepts, including Capo Deli, Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls, Onkei, RAWish, Nim Ali, Falafel Inc., Arepa Zone, Bandoola Bowl, and Roaming Rooster. The ample space, at over 12,000 square feet, is a fun meeting place, drawing crowds from GW, neighboring institutions like the World Bank, and visitors alike. 

Give in to sensory overload at this homage to the railway dining rooms that catered to the prewar European elite. The food is just as rich as you'd expect: entrée-size salads with Belgian frites, fruits de mer platters with enough shellfish for a small army, and a dizzying lineup of artisanal beers. Every detail of Beck's interior exudes luxury, from the vintage-accented clocks that stand above mahogany booths to the exposed stainless-steel kitchen. The production is impressive, and you'll remember the food fondly after returning home—but you might consider a fast the next day.

Sadly, D.C.'s Chinatown has lost many Chinese restaurants due to gentrification. Thankfully, China Garden still stands, offering the classics of American-Chinese cuisine such as General Tso's chicken, beef and broccoli, and fried rice. You can't miss the location: a bright-red pagoda-like facade that is a neighborhood landmark. Vegetarians rejoice since there are plenty of plant-based options. The menu is diverse, and you can still get an affordable meal in the heart of D.C.  

Pizza (and beer) in the front, Ping-Pong (and foosball) in the back make this pizza joint a neighborhood favorite for folks of all ages. While you can make your own pizza (including one with a gluten-free crust) from almost four dozen toppings, you'll be well served to opt for one of the kitchen's specialty pies. Comet often features live music performed by local musicians. Check the website for the schedule.

DCity Smokehouse continues to be a beloved neighborhood barbecue spot. Located in residential Bloomingdale, the restaurant serves a variety of meats smoked in-house. Carnivores come for slices of savory brisket, decadent smoked chicken wings, and of course, a classic D.C. half-smoke sausage with chili. On a nice day, have your meal at their picnic benches, order a beer, and people-watch.

The exposed brick and warm woods may signal upscale saloon, but District Kitchen is much more, offering an eclectic, farm-to-table menu featuring the restaurant's signature dish, a large and tasty bowl of paella. Sure, there are burgers, steaks, and the like, but also ceviche, cheese plates, lamb ragù, and at least one or two tempting fish options. It's just a block from the Woodley Metro and close to the zoo.

The line out the door at lunchtime is a dead giveaway that D.C.'ers have taken to this fast-casual, Yucatán-style Mexican restaurant that got its start as a food truck in 2009. While you can customize the toppings of your tacos or burritos, ordering them the Mexican way (with cilantro and onion) is a sure bet. Similarly, the breakfast tacos (served all day) never disappoint. And before grabbing your table, make sure you hit up the salsa bar.

Eat tasty pastries and sandwiches with a purpose—the sales of this bakery support veteran and military spouses' entrepreneurship programs. This quaint bakery offers a variety of sweet and savory pastries, sandwiches, and coffee.

A shabby-chic bar–restaurant directly across the street from the National Zoo has been deemed by one local paper to have the best burger in D.C. If it's not the best, it's close: a big, tasty patty made from charbroiled Angus beef that's on a pub menu with other continental options, including mum's tuna melt and pastrami on weck—check the chalkboard for the latest seasonal fare. There's a happy hour that goes from noon to 7 daily, a welcome respite after dragging kids around all day to look at giraffes and lions. There's a bright, inviting copper bar, and a sun-splashed patio.

The spongy rolls of sourdough injera bread (ubiquitous on Ethiopian plates) used in place of utensils can make traditional Ethiopian feel decidedly indelicate, but the bright surroundings and friendly service here make for a downright romantic experience. Venture off the well-beaten path of tender curry lamb to try the spicy chickpea dumplings or fragrant simmered split peas, laden with garlic and served in a clay pot. For devoted meat lovers, the cured beef tibs (a type of hearty steak cut) in spicy berbere sauce and the fried croaker fish marinated with fresh herbs and spices will crown a memorable, affordable meal. The full bar also serves potent Ethiopian beers.

An ultramodern take on the old-school farmhouse, Founding Farmers has been a popular choice for both tourists and locals. The restaurant is known for its sustainable and local sourcing. The wide-ranging menu includes everything from handmade pasta to burgers oozing with a variety of toppings. Farms from all over the country provide most of the fresh vegetables, beef, poultry, and fish. Bonus: it's one of the few standalone restaurants in the city offering breakfast from Monday to Friday. 

Few who stop by this bustling hive of smoky brisket and gooey ribs can deny it does Texas meat right. This is evident in the pay-by-the-pound ethos that lets you sample one slice of lean beef and one scoop of gooey white shoepeg corn pudding alongside a succulent turkey breast. But this family-friendly retreat becomes a social destination come happy hour and beyond, when margarita pitchers reel in the twentysomethings, and Wednesday becomes a rollicking country western love music night. 

From early morning until well into the evening, you'll find chatty diners at this bookstore café. Breakfast fare is popular, with crab cake benedict one of the top choices. A few vegan and gluten-free dishes are also offered. If you're dining alone, the bar is your best bet as staff can be reluctant to give single diners one of the coveted outside or window tables.

The menu at this classic neighborhood bar–restaurant concentrates on seafood, with both Cape Cod and Baja influences, bringing a coastal dining experience to the city with a winning formula. Look for cod, lobster rolls, fish tacos, and even panfried trout. The bright, airy, nautically themed place seats about 220, and has a big, dog-friendly patio outside overlooking Massachusetts Avenue. Happy hour is popular, and there's even a takeout ice-cream stand. The only downside is that it's a mile from the nearest Metro station at Tenleytown.

This casual spot with Persian fare and a focus on high-quality ingredients will steal your heart. Whether you're craving kebabs, falafel, baklava, or gyros, you cannot go wrong (although we do strongly recommend the baklava and the salmon kebabs). The freshly baked pita served with every order is a great touch.

This Parisian-style café is fast and casual yet sophisticated. The puff of its cheese gougeres, the heft of its salty-sweet croque monsieur sandwiches, and the delicate crunch of its almond-flour macaron cookies will leave you craving more. Although there can be lengthy lines, when you compare the prices and quality here to other Downtown lunch options, nothing else comes close.

If you need a break and a quick hit of sugar in between sightseeing, Pitango is a great place to stop for a while, or just pick up a sorbet or gelato on the fly. It would be hard to pick a standout flavor among the stellar rotating cast, but their most popular is Fondante, a rich chocolate. Newer flavors include white nectarine, golden kiwi, and hibiscus blossom. If you're hungry for something more substantial, pick up one of their sandwiches made with Italian meats and cheeses on freshly baked focaccia or a to-go box of their handmade, signature, almond cookies.