Ethiopian$$shawSun-Thu 11:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:30-23:00
Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant in Washington DC is the second-floor 9th Street rowhouse Ethiopian dining room in Shaw's Little Ethiopia, a no-reservations.
Signature: Shiro chickpea stew, Vegetarian combination platter
Order: The shiro chickpea stew with extra injera; the menu's editorial signature.
Tip: No reservations; the staircase line moves fastest at 17:30 on weeknights and crowds outside the door by 19:00. Cash and card both accepted.
Ethiopian$$shawMon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri 17:00-23:00, Sat 15:00-23:00, Sun 15:00-22:00
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.
Signature: Kitfo, Tibs
Order: The kitfo (Ethiopian raw beef tartare) leb leb or rare with mitmita spice; the room's deepest cut.
Tip: Live Ethiopian music plays Friday and Saturday from 21:00; the back booth is the quietest table.
Italian Pizza$$georgetownMon-Thu 12:00-21:00, Fri 12:00-22:00, Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Pizzeria Paradiso Georgetown in Washington DC is the M Street wood-fired pizza sister on the canal, the Georgetown branch of Ruth Gresser's Dupont Circle.
Signature: Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, Atomica
Order: The Genovese with pesto, potatoes and green beans; the Genoese signature of the menu.
Tip: The patio runs from April to October and overlooks the C&O Canal towpath; book a sunset seat.
Modern French Bistro$$$logan-circleMon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-23:00
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.
Signature: Cassoulet, Steak frites with bearnaise
Order: The cassoulet that won the authentic-category world award; the menu's editorial anchor.
Tip: Breakfast service from 07:00 daily is the hidden value; dinner books out a week ahead on Resy.
Thai$$logan-circleMon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri 11:30-23:00, Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-22:00
Doi Moi in Washington DC is the 14th Street Southeast Asian dining room from the Eat Group, a Thai-Vietnamese-Lao kitchen with an outdoor patio and a deep.
Signature: Khao soi, Whole fish in tamarind
Order: The khao soi northern Thai curry noodles; the menu's most-ordered single dish.
Tip: The patio runs from April to October and is the better seat at sunset; the bar takes walk-ups.
Laotian$$columbia-heightsMon 17:00-22:00, Wed-Sun 17:00-22:00
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.
Signature: Laotian beef larb, Sticky rice
Order: The crispy rice salad (nem khao) with cured pork; the menu's most-ordered single dish.
Tip: Ask for the off-menu jungle insert by name; the larb on it is far hotter than the standard menu.