Bistros, trattorias and the everyday places where Washington DC actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Washington DC actually eats.
Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC is the 1958 U Street counter from Ben and Virginia Ali, the city's defining half-smoke, served at 1213 U Street NW.
OrderThe chili half-smoke with mustard, onions and chili; the dish that built the room.
TipCash and card both accepted; line moves fastest at the take-away counter on the right.
Founding Farmers DC in Washington DC is the Pennsylvania Avenue farmer-owned cooperative dining room near the IMF and World Bank, an all-day American kitchen.
OrderThe fried chicken and waffles with apple butter; the menu's most-ordered single plate.
TipReservations book out for brunch a week ahead; weekday breakfast and the bar take walk-ins.
Ben's Next Door in Washington DC is the sit-down sister of Ben's Chili Bowl at 1211 U Street, a soul-American kitchen with a cocktail list and the half-smoke.
OrderThe buttermilk fried chicken with mac and collards; the room's most-ordered single dish.
TipThe bar runs late on weekends and is the better seat for a single diner; brunch fills up by 11:30.
Matchbox in Washington DC is the original Penn Quarter pizza-and-burger room on H Street since 2003, a wood-fired oven kitchen on Chinatown's western edge.
OrderThe mini burger trio with thin onion rings; the room's most-ordered appetiser.
TipThe upstairs dining room is quieter than the busy ground-floor bar; ask for it at booking.
Pizzeria Paradiso in Washington DC is Ruth Gresser's Dupont Circle wood-fired pizza room on P Street since 1991, a thin-crust Italian pizzeria.
OrderThe Atomica with hot salami, black olives and red pepper flakes; the menu since 1991.
TipThe Birreria downstairs runs over 150 beers; ask for the Italian craft tasting flight at the bar.
Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant in Washington DC is the second-floor 9th Street rowhouse Ethiopian dining room in Shaw's Little Ethiopia, a no-reservations.
OrderThe shiro chickpea stew with extra injera; the menu's editorial signature.
TipNo reservations; the staircase line moves fastest at 17:30 on weeknights and crowds outside the door by 19:00. Cash and card both accepted.
Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant in Washington DC is the U Street Ethiopian dining room since 1997, the older sister to Etete and a U Street institution.
OrderThe kitfo (Ethiopian raw beef tartare) leb leb or rare with mitmita spice; the room's deepest cut.
TipLive Ethiopian music plays Friday and Saturday from 21:00; the back booth is the quietest table.
Pizzeria Paradiso Georgetown in Washington DC is the M Street wood-fired pizza sister on the canal, the Georgetown branch of Ruth Gresser's Dupont Circle.
OrderThe Genovese with pesto, potatoes and green beans; the Genoese signature of the menu.
TipThe patio runs from April to October and overlooks the C&O Canal towpath; book a sunset seat.
Le Sel in Washington DC is the modern French bistro inside the Kimpton Banneker Hotel near Logan Circle on 16th Street, a Parisian-leaning room with a recent.
OrderThe cassoulet that won the authentic-category world award; the menu's editorial anchor.
TipBreakfast service from 07:00 daily is the hidden value; dinner books out a week ahead on Resy.
Doi Moi in Washington DC is the 14th Street Southeast Asian dining room from the Eat Group, a Thai-Vietnamese-Lao kitchen with an outdoor patio and a deep.
OrderThe khao soi northern Thai curry noodles; the menu's most-ordered single dish.
TipThe patio runs from April to October and is the better seat at sunset; the bar takes walk-ups.
Bub and Pop's is a Philadelphia-style hoagie shop by the NoMa-Gallaudet Metro in Washington DC, built on the Wagner family's South Philly recipes.
OrderThe Italian hoagie with hot peppers; the menu's most-ordered sandwich.
TipLunch line stacks up at 12:30; order ahead via the website to skip the wait. Cash and card both accepted.
Thip Khao in Washington DC is Seng Luangrath's Columbia Heights Laotian dining room on 14th Street, a casual room with a separate spicy-jungle-menu insert.
OrderThe crispy rice salad (nem khao) with cured pork; the menu's most-ordered single dish.
TipAsk for the off-menu jungle insert by name; the larb on it is far hotter than the standard menu.
Sette Osteria on 14th Street in Washington DC is the Logan Circle Italian sister of the Dupont original on the corner of 14th and Q, with an open wood-fired.
OrderThe bucatini cacio e pepe with cracked black pepper; one of the kitchen's house-made pasta anchors.
TipSaturday brunch from 10:00 takes walk-ins faster than dinner; the patio runs through October on the corner.
Menomale in Washington DC is Ettore Rusciano's Brookland Naples-style pizzeria on 12th Street NE, with VPN-certified Neapolitan pies and a dough proofed.
OrderThe Diavola with spicy salami and DOP buffalo mozzarella; the kitchen's editorial standout.
TipThe patio runs through October; cash, card, and same-day delivery are all accepted.
Lapis in Washington DC is Shamim Popal's Adams Morgan Afghan dining room on Columbia Road, a family-run kitchen with mantu dumplings and the Kabuli pulao.
OrderThe mantu dumplings under tomato sauce and yoghurt; the menu's editorial signature.
TipThe brunch buffet on Saturday and Sunday is the city's best Afghan-food deal at under $25 a head.
Sweet Home Cafe in Washington DC is the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture cafeteria on Constitution Avenue.
OrderThe pan-roasted catfish with cornbread and collards; the menu's most-ordered Southern plate.
TipMuseum admission is free but requires a timed-entry pass; eat after 14:00 to skip the queue.
Ted's Bulletin in Washington DC is the 14th Street art-deco American diner from the Matchbox group, an all-day breakfast room with the in-house adult.
OrderThe homemade strawberry pop-tart with milkshake; the all-day breakfast headliner.
TipWeekend brunch fills up by 11:00; the original Barracks Row Ted's takes walk-ins on weekday mornings.
Daru in Washington DC is Suresh Sundas's H Street modern Indian dining room on Maryland Avenue NE, a hand-built kitchen with regional Indian street food.
OrderThe Goan crab toast on milk bread; the menu's editorial standout opener.
TipThe chef's counter is the best seat for the kitchen show; the patio runs to October.
Alfredo Solis's Mezcalero on 14th Street Columbia Heights Washington DC, the authentic Mexico City taco and mezcal kitchen with handmade tortillas and brunch.
OrderAl pastor tacos with a mezcal flight; the brunch chilaquiles on Sundays.
TipSister to El Sol and the closed Anafre across the street; reservations via OpenTable for Friday-Sunday dinner.
Rooster and Owl in Washington DC is Yuan and Carey Tang's 14th Street Michelin-mentioned modern American dining room, a four-course prix fixe with a strong.
OrderThe pork rind chicharrones with chili lime; the most photographed dish on the menu.
TipThe four-course prix fixe is $79 at dinner; the wine pairing leans natural and is the value upgrade.
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