Rasika in Washington DC runs a deep vegetarian section across its Penn Quarter D Street modern Indian dining room, with palak chaat, paneer makhani and Indian regional vegetable plates.
Tip: The vegetarian thali is the value pick for a vegetarian diner; book ahead and ask for the vegetarian-only menu insert.
Address: 633 D St NW, Washington, DC 20004, Washington DC
Etete in Washington DC runs the city's most-photographed vegetarian combination platter, a round of injera surrounding misir, shiro, gomen and beet across the Little Ethiopia menu.
Tip: The veg combination is enough for two; pair with a hot Ethiopian coffee at the end for the editorial finish.
Rise Bakery in Washington DC is the Palisades MacArthur Boulevard 100 percent gluten-free bakery from Cheryl Tomson, with sandwich loaves, cupcakes, brownies and bagels baked in a dedicated kitchen.
Tip: Bread loaves are baked Tuesday and Friday only; pre-order on the website by the Monday before for pickup.
NuVegan Cafe in Washington DC is the Park View Georgia Avenue vegan and gluten-free cafe, with a separate gluten-free menu insert and the city's deepest Black-owned plant-based lineup.
Tip: The Friday-Saturday brunch lineup runs hand-cut gluten-free pancakes; pre-order via the website to skip the queue.
Kabob Palace just outside Washington DC is the Crystal City Eads Street 24-hour Afghan halal kabob counter, the metro area's most-known late-night halal lamb and chicken kabob shop.
Tip: Open 24 hours; the cab-drivers' rate is the standard rate. The lamb kebab with rice and naan is $14 around the clock.
Shouk Union Market in Washington DC is the NoMa 4th Street plant-based Middle Eastern counter from Ran Nussbacher, with shouk burgers, mushroom shawarma and Israeli-style salads.
Tip: The shouk burger with chickpea-mushroom patty is the most-ordered single item; the harissa hummus is the under-ordered side.
Char Bar Kosher in Washington DC is the West End L Street glatt-kosher restaurant from Andre Voloshin, a kosher steakhouse and burger room with daily lunch and dinner service Sunday through Thursday.
Tip: Closed Friday sunset through Saturday sunset for Shabbat; the Sunday-night burger plate is the editorial pick.
