12 Washington, DC restaurants that our local editor loves

by Christabel Lobo
Updated April 30, 2024
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.
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4.7 (2857)
$30 and under
Peruvian
Downtown
Top review
AA
AAGG
Dined on Jul 8, 2025
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4.6 (5119)
$30 and under
American
Friendship Heights
Top review
H
HenryVIP
Dined 2 days ago
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A
Alexis
Dined on May 11, 2025
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G
GerardVIP
Dined 2 days ago
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T
Tristan
Dined 6 days ago
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K
Kelly
Dined 2 days ago
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K
KentVIP
Dined 3 days ago
4.6 (131)
$30 and under
Ethiopian
Bethesda
Top review
L
Lisa
Dined on May 31, 2025
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L
Lisa
Dined on May 31, 2025
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R
RebekhaVIP
Dined 2 days ago
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S
SarahVIP
Dined 7 days ago
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M
Ms. R.VIP
Dined on May 1, 2025
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