Shouk Mount Vernon Triangle in Washington DC is Ran Nussbacher's K Street plant-based Middle Eastern counter, with shouk burgers, mushroom shawarma and tahini-heavy bowls served quickly.
Tip: The shouk burger with chickpea-mushroom patty is the bestseller; the harissa hummus is the under-ordered side.
Address: 655 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001, Washington DC
Elizabeth's Gone Raw in Washington DC is the L Street raw-vegan dining room from chef Elizabeth Petty, with a six-course raw-vegan tasting menu served Fridays and Saturdays only.
Tip: Six-course tasting menus run $95 Friday and Saturday evenings only; book three weeks ahead via the website.
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.
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.
