Modern Indian$$$penn-quarterMon-Fri 11:30-14:30, Sun 11:30-14:30, Sun 16:30-21:30, Mon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri 17:00-22:30, Sat 16:30-22:30
Rasika in Washington DC is Ashok Bajaj's Penn Quarter modern Indian dining room on D Street, the city's anchor Indian fine-dining room since 2005 and a State.
Signature: Palak chaat, Lobster moilee
Order: The palak chaat (crispy spinach with sweet yoghurt and tamarind); the room's most-ordered single dish.
Tip: The West End Rasika is the larger room; the Penn Quarter original is louder and harder to book but holds the editorial top spot.
Laotian$$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, the city's anchor Laotian kitchen with a separate.
Signature: Laotian beef larb, Sticky rice
Order: The Laotian-style beef larb from the jungle menu; ask for the off-menu insert by name.
Tip: The crispy rice salad and Lao sausage are the second-meal must-orders; bring a wine you don't mind opening (BYO).
Levantine$$$navy-yardTue-Sat 17:00-21:00
Albi in Washington DC is Michael Rafidi's Michelin-star Navy Yard Levantine wood-fire dining room on 4th Street SE, a one-Michelin-star kitchen with a James.
Signature: Wood-fire kebabs, Manakish flatbread
Order: The hummus and the wood-fire shish barak (lamb dumpling); the editorial standout of the menu.
Tip: The tasting menu Yellow Door dinner is the chef's signature ticket; book the upstairs Yellow Door room directly.
Italian$$$eckington-bloomingdaleMon-Thu 17:30-22:00, Fri-Sun 17:00-22:00
The Red Hen in Washington DC is the Bloomingdale Italian neighbourhood dining room on First Street, with the rigatoni-fennel-sausage pasta that has run.
Signature: Rigatoni with fennel sausage, Wood-grilled meats
Order: The mezzi rigatoni with house fennel sausage; on the menu since opening and the room's most-ordered dish.
Tip: The Sunday family-style pasta night is the value slot; book the upstairs bar counter for a quieter view of the wood grill.
Peruvian$$$$shawMon-Tue 17:00-23:00, Wed-Fri 17:00-00:00
Causa in Washington DC is Chef Carlos Delgado's Michelin-star Peruvian tasting room in Shaw Blagden Alley, a downstairs fine-dining counter that won.
Signature: Coastal seafood tasting, Pisco-pairing flight
Order: Whichever ceviche course opens the tasting.
Tip: The casual upstairs sister Amazonia takes Amazon-region cooking a la carte; reserve Causa one menu, walk up to Amazonia for a closer to a pisco-led evening.
Modernist Tasting Menu$$$$penn-quarterTue-Sat 17:00-22:00
Minibar by Jose Andres in Washington DC is the chef's two-Michelin-star, 12-seat counter on E Street, a 20-course modernist tasting menu pulled.
Signature: 20-course modernist tasting, Caviar cone
Order: Whatever course requires both hands; the kitchen is unsentimental about it.
Tip: Book at midnight three months out via Tock. The wine pairing leans Old World Spanish; ask for the deep-dive option.