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Washington D.C is awash with delicious, from sloppy burgers to refined tasting menus, the political capital has it all. The destination is known for great museums, history, wonderful monuments and great sights, but away from the hustle of the Capitol there are some amazing dining experiences popping up across the city.
Below are some of our favorite picks, from modern gastronomy to tapas, Asian dining to refined American gastronomy, here’s our round up of some of the best restaurants in Washington D.C.
Minibar by Jose Andres
If you want to be wowed by technique, surprised by flavor and cuddled with delicious: Minibar by chef Jose Andres is the place to be. This is one of the temples of modern gastronomy in the U.S and the menu is full of surprises like a sweet marshmallow toast topped with uni, or a faux-cauliflower head that melts in the mouth and is paired perfectly with caviar. The bar next door also offers up some of the most creative cocktails in the city - if you’re serious about gastronomy and visiting D.C - you can’t skip this American powerhouse.
Minibar by José Andrés
855 E St NW, Washington, DC 20004, USAWebsite
Toki Underground
Billed as Washington's D.C's first ramen shop, Toki Underground is known for their bowls of deep umani-laded broths, part of the reason they're making this selection. However, one of the other standouts at the restaurant are the boa buns - fluffy little clouds of steamed goodness that are stuffed with all manner of deliciousness: pork cheek, fried chicken and there's one with a sake-battered cauliflower.
Toki Underground
1234 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA Website
Rose's Luxury
Rose’s Luxury is one of those restaurants you can easily dine at twice a week and it’s quickly become one of the favorite places to eat for locals in the know. Billed as an “eclectic New American tapas” the restaurant, owned by chef Aaron Silverman, offers up a selection of small plates to start, a collection of four pasta dishes and a number of shared plates.
Rose’s Luxury
717 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA Website
Mirabelle
This is the French-American restaurant of chef Frank Ruta and it does one of the best burgers in the city, but only at lunch. It's called the Belle Burger but referred to by locals as the Wet Burger - this is because it's topped with caramelized onions, aged gruyere cheese and Pomerol sauce.Mirabelle
900 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA Website
Pineapple and Pearls
Aaron Silverman strikes again with his more refined restaurant offering, Pineapple and Pearls, which offers a 12-course tasting menu. This is technical cooking and eye-popping presentation that was awarded two Michelin stars in the most recent guide. Another nice note at the restaurant is that every meal you buy goes towards donating to the World Food Program in the U.S, an organisation that works to feed hungry children around the world. So far the restaurant has donated over $37,000 to the program.
Pineapple and Pearls
715 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003, USAWebsite
Jaleo
Fun and flavorful - what more do you need in a restaurant? This is another establishment owned by Jose Andres but it sits firmly at the opposite end of the gastro-scale when compared with Minibar. Lunch like a spaniard is the restaurant’s saying and they certainly deliver, we think this is the perfect lunch or dinner spot for a more relaxed evening. Think tapas and paella with a focus on ingredients and perfect cooking. Fideo negro con pulpo is a must order, a rice with squid ink and octopus.
Jaleo
480 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004, USAWebsite
Daikaya Izakaya
Soups, miso, ramen and poke - this is a mixed bag, mainly Japanese, restaurant that offers up some great options for lunch. The bowls are all perfectly balanced and well priced, the salads pack a flavorful punch and the mixes of ingredients, cultures and traditions are well worth sampling.
Daikaya Izakaya
705 6th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USAWebsite
