In my years of tasting and writing for Insider, Lonely Planet, and, now, OpenTable, I’ve discovered that eating out in Washington, DC is like taking in a tapestry of cultures. There’s Sapporo-style ramen good enough to rival Japan’s best noodle houses; berbere-spiced lentils that pay homage to the District’s large Ethiopian community; and top-notch ceviche inspired by Peru.
My restaurant hit list isn’t just a food-lover’s tour of the capital—it’s a delicious global adventure. Read on for a guide to 12 DC restaurants that serve full-on experiences alongside epic international meals.
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar (Downtown)
A hard-to-find Nikkei and Chifa menu, inspired by Peru’s Japanese and Chinese communities, makes this multicultural downtown restaurant especially transportive. Kick off with the ceviche sampler before moving on to pork char siu with fried rice and honey sauce. Don’t skip the pisco sours—my favorite is a refreshing South American twist on the Aperol spritz.
La Tomate (Dupont Circle)
Freshly baked bread and hand-rolled pasta have given La Tomate its neighborhood cred for more than three decades. It’s a charming slice of Italy in DC and an ideal spot for group get-togethers thanks to shareable plates of squid ink-infused linguine with orange zest and spaghetti with whole lobster meat. Ordering dessert is non-negotiable—everything from the tiramisu to the creamy gelato is made from scratch here.
Haikan (Shaw)
Haikan is where I go for my ramen fix—more specifically, shio (salt) ramen with umami-rich Hokkaido scallops. Not in the mood for noods? Much like its sibling spot, Daikaya, this restaurant also serves excellent drinks-friendly small plates like beef tongue tacos slow-cooked in dashi or crab rangoons with a side of sweet jalapeño jelly. A killer Japanese sake selection rounds out the meal.
Clyde’s of Chevy Chase (Chevy Chase)
Whether you’re here to unwind after a long work day or to enjoy the camaraderie of game night with friends, this long-standing DMV chain is all about all-American classics and friendly service. While you can’t go wrong with a classic burger or crab-cake platter, it’s the twice-daily oyster happy hour that draws crowds—I first started coming as a budget-conscious intern—to this nearly 30-year-old neighborhood staple with several locations across the DMV area.
Era Wine Bar (Mount Rainier)
Wife-and-husband duo Michelle and Ka-ton Grant are the brains behind this charming wine bar just across the Maryland-DC border. Expect a crash course on underrepresented wine regions, women-owned wineries, and biodynamic producers. Era is where I go to explore unique vintages and small-batch wonders in a refreshingly unpretentious setting. The accompanying food, like tandoori wings and crostini flights, is inspired by the owners’ travels and family recipes.
Filomena Ristorante (Georgetown)
In a city with endless Italian options, Filomena’s inspiring backstory gives it an edge: Owner JoAnna Filomena Chiacchieri opened the beloved Georgetown institution in 1983 when it was rare for women to do so independently. The kitschy and colorful dining room will make you feel like you’re being wrapped in a hug. But most importantly, the generous portion sizes haven’t changed in 40 years. And trust me, six-layer-deep lasagna alla Bolognese makes for the world’s best leftovers.
Dauphine’s (Downtown)
If this sprawling NOLA-inspired restaurant had a slogan, it would definitely be “laissez les bons temps rouler.” And boy, do the good times roll, whether you’re perched at the handsome marble-topped bar or the palm-lined mezzanine level. James Beard Award-nominated chef Kristen Essig serves exquisite Southern food like oysters char-grilled to perfection with spinach and horseradish. And yes, there are beignets.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace (Logan Circle)
Since its 2009 debut, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace has anchored itself as Logan Circle’s go-to spot for bivalve lovers. The weekday happy hour is seriously hard to beat with half-price locally sourced oysters and steaming plates of lemon-butter-garlic mussels. But the restaurant shines brightest during bottomless brunch, when the lively ambiance is matched by flavorful Southern-inspired dishes like a catfish po’boy and bananas foster French toast.
Bistro Aracosia (Palisades Northwest)
One meal is all it takes to understand why this family-owned gem consistently lands on the city’s best-of-dining lists year after year. From savory layers of Kabuli rice pilaf to richly flavored creamy chicken qorma and braised lamb shank stew, each dish at Bistro Aracosia celebrates the owners’ Afghani heritage. A massive menu means you’re truly spoiled for choice—yet another reason to come back.
Chercher Ethiopian Cuisine (Bethesda)
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that great Ethiopian food is easy to find in the nation’s capital; after all, the District is home to the country’s largest Ethiopian community. When the injera cravings hit, bring a group to this easygoing but acclaimed restaurant. The spicy beef kitfo is a winner, and so are the hearty vegetarian platters with shiro wat (berbere-spiced chickpea stew) and gomen (steamed collard greens).
Bar Chinois (Shaw)
Moody, neon-lit interiors make this industrial-chic Shaw hotspot one of my favorite neighborhood bars for catching up with friends. Inventive drinks include cocktails that taste exactly like a slice of peach cobbler or a zingy riff on the Moscow mule—spicy ginger beer is the key ingredient. For a meal and a show, come on Sundays when Bar Chinois hosts a top-tier drag brunch.
BlackSalt (Palisades)
This seafood-centric Palisades tavern doesn’t just serve meals—part of it also functions as a sustainable fish market. My dinnertime go-tos are the signature seafood towers, piled high with oysters, shrimp cocktail, steamed mussels and Chesapeake crab. And the dessert menu is anything but an afterthought—end your feast with key lime pie, blueberry compote, passion fruit caramel, and whipped cream.
Christabel Lobo is a food and travel writer based between Washington, DC and south India. Her work has appeared in publications including Insider and Lonely Planet, among others.
