A smoked sausage, coarser and spicier than a hot dog, that Washington calls its own. Order it with chili.
Where to goBen's Chili BowlU Street. On U Street NW since 1958.
Go there →Adolf Cluss's 1873 market hall still sells meat, seafood, cheese, bread and flowers inside; on weekends the farmers and the flea fill the sidewalks.
Where to goEastern MarketCapitol Hill. At 7th and C Streets SE.
Go there →Ethiopia is one of the biggest sources of the city's immigrants, and Ethiopian restaurants cluster around Shaw and U Street. Eat with your hands, tearing the injera.
Where to goShaw and U StreetU Street. A short walk from the 14th Street shops.
Go there →Washington · 44 places to eat
Where to eat between shops.
Half-smokes on U Street, crabs at the fish market, Eastern Market's counters and MICHELIN rooms, each one close to the shopping. Every pick links straight to the restaurant.
The Municipal Fish Market opened in 1805 and calls itself the oldest continuously operating open-air fish market in the country. Crabs are sold by the bushel, steamed while you wait.
Where to goJessie Taylor SeafoodThe Wharf. A fish market vendor since 1939.
Go there →Adams Morgan's late-night pizza: one slice, sold whole, folded to eat.
Where to goThe pizza counters on 18th Street NWAdams Morgan. Busiest after the bars on weekends.
Go there →Union Terminal Market opened in 1931; the hall at 1309 5th Street NE now holds a butcher, a tea and spice counter, a Middle Eastern grocer and a French wine bar.
Where to goUnion MarketUnion Market District. Bread Alley around the corner bakes for Le Diplomate.
Go there →Iconic DC
Half-Smokes, Taverns & Institutions
Washington's own food is counter food and old rooms: a half-smoke with chili on U Street, steamed crabs at the fish market, and the city's oldest taverns and brasseries.
- American
Martin's Tavern
Georgetown tavern open since 1933 serving classic American fare for four generations; JFK proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier here and the 'proposal booth' is still requested.
Georgetown - American
Old Ebbitt Grill
Downtown tavern with Victorian-style rooms, American food and oyster specials; open from 8am weekdays and 9am weekends until 2am.
CityCenterDC - French
Le Diplomate
the brasserie at 14th and QLogan Circle French brasserie; Washingtonian's 2026 list points to the steak au poivre, onion soup, trout amandine and the cheeseburger at the bar.
14th Street - Chili / Hot dogs
Ben's Chili Bowl
the chili half-smoke since 1958U Street location of the chili counter whose signage reads 'A Washington Landmark since 1958'; open Sun–Thu 11am–11pm and Fri–Sat 11am–4am.
14th Street
MICHELIN stars
Washington's Starred Tables
The starred restaurants closest to the shopping.
- Spanish
Xiquet
Third-floor room with a handful of tables serving Valencian food from a smoker and wood-fired hearth; the rice dishes are the standout.
Georgetown - Latin American
Imperfecto: The Chef's Table
A few seats at a counter beneath chef Enrique Limardo's station, run as a restaurant within a restaurant.
Georgetown - Creative
minibar by José Andrés
Cocktails and snacks in an all-white bar, then about a dozen seats at a wood-topped kitchen counter; dishes include trompe l'oeil cauliflower with caviar and a jamón chawanmushi with sea urchin.
Penn Quarter & Chinatown - Italian / Contemporary
Fiola
Regional Italian cooking drawing on Roman and Venetian flavors; the square duck-ragù pasta (Cubetto Genovese D'Antra) is a highlighted dish.
Penn Quarter & Chinatown - Indian / Contemporary
Rania
Contemporary Indian fine dining; signatures include chana masala panisse with green garlic chutney and hay-aged pork vindaloo.
Penn Quarter & Chinatown - Japanese / Sushi
Sushi Nakazawa Washington DC
Second location of Daisuke Nakazawa's sushi counter, inside the Waldorf Astoria; a 20-course omakase at a marble counter that runs about two hours.
Penn Quarter & Chinatown - Contemporary
Jônt
Ryan Ratino's counter upstairs from Bresca, built around seafood and meat from Japan; courses include wagyu tartare tarts and Hokkaido uni with bluefin tuna.
14th Street - Contemporary / American
Bresca
Ryan Ratino's dining room with gold accents and a moss wall; signatures include a foie gras 'negroni' and pappardelle with lamb ragù.
14th Street - American / Contemporary
The Dabney
Jeremiah Langhorne's Mid-Atlantic cooking from a wood-fired hearth in a brick-walled Blagden Alley room.
14th Street - Peruvian / Latin American
Causa
Carlos Delgado's Nikkei-influenced Peruvian tasting menu on the ground floor of a two-concept Blagden Alley space.
14th Street - Vegetarian / Latin American
Mita
Plant-based Latin American tasting menus in short and long formats from Tatiana Mora and Miguel Guerra; the arepa basket comes with guasacaca.
14th Street - Vegetarian / Contemporary
Oyster Oyster
Rob Rubba's vegetable tasting menu (also a MICHELIN Green Star); dishes include eggplant agnolotti in roasted corn broth.
14th Street - Contemporary / Fusion
Rooster & Owl
Husband-and-wife-run spot where diners mix and match Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Asian-influenced dishes, with wine pairings matched at the bar.
14th Street - Colombian / Contemporary
Elcielo Washington DC
Juan Manuel Barrientos's Colombian tasting menus in two dining rooms next to La Cosecha; the corn broth and 'chocotherapy' dessert are highlighted.
Union Market District - Italian
Masseria
Nicholas Stefanelli's Puglia-influenced menu in a former warehouse with a glass-encased wine cellar.
Union Market District - Contemporary
Rose's Luxury
Family-style prix fixe on Barracks Row; signatures include pork and lychee salad and fusilli with sweet pea cream, feta and mint.
Eastern Market & Barracks Row - Contemporary
Pineapple and Pearls
Aaron Silverman's theatrical tasting menu with tableside presentations; dishes riff on Southern cooking and luxury ingredients, such as a walnut lobster.
Eastern Market & Barracks Row - Contemporary
Little Pearl
Glass-enclosed, sunroom-like dining room from the Rose's Luxury team; the 'angel egg' amuse is a constant on a changing menu.
Eastern Market & Barracks Row - Japanese / Sushi
Omakase at Barracks Row
Sushi counter up a metal staircase on Barracks Row run by Yi 'Ricky' Wang, who trained under Daisuke Nakazawa.
Eastern Market & Barracks Row - Middle Eastern
Albi
Michael Rafidi's open-fire Palestinian-inspired cooking, with arak on the drinks list.
Navy Yard
Bib Gourmand
Great Food, Fair Prices
The MICHELIN inspectors' picks for very good cooking at a moderate price.
- Middle Eastern
Yellow
Michael Rafidi's all-day Georgetown cafe built around a wood-burning oven; expect a line.
Georgetown - Creole
Dauphine's
Three-level New Orleans-style restaurant; oysters Dauphine and blackened soft-shell crab are highlighted.
CityCenterDC - Mexican
Oyamel
José Andrés's Mexican small plates with a ceviche bar; the inspectors point to the black bean soup with avocado leaves and cotija.
Penn Quarter & Chinatown - Mediterranean
Zaytinya
Mezze-focused Greek, Turkish and Lebanese menu with a wine list strong in Greek and Lebanese labels.
Penn Quarter & Chinatown - Indian / Contemporary
Karizma Modern Indian
Main dining room of a two-concept space (Karma runs a separate tasting menu); the chèvre and herb naan and lamb kakori kebab are noted.
Penn Quarter & Chinatown - Italian
L'Ardente
Wood-burning grill and pizza oven with counter seats; the 40-layer short rib lasagna is the signature.
Penn Quarter & Chinatown - Gastropub / American
Your Only Friend
New in 2025: a sandwich shop crossed with a cocktail bar; the 'Hot Nug' is chicken nuggets with Nashville hot sauce.
14th Street - American
Unconventional Diner
Reworked diner classics such as kale nachos and meatloaf with sriracha and morel gravy; reservations advised.
14th Street - Mexican / Contemporary
Amparo Fondita
Christian Irabién's shared-plates Mexican menu built on in-house nixtamalized tortillas.
Dupont Circle - Contemporary
Residents Cafe & Bar
Two-level black-painted row house with a front patio; Turkish eggs at brunch and chicken schnitzel at night.
Dupont Circle - Afghan
Lapis
Afghan cooking the inspectors call light and fresh; chopawn (grilled lamb chops with cardamom rice) is singled out.
Adams Morgan - Pizza / Italian
Stellina Pizzeria
Neo-Neapolitan pizzeria with a wood-burning oven; pizzas come whole for diners to cut at the table.
Union Market District - South East Asian / Lao
Laos in Town
Lao menu with a full vegan section; the papaya salad with Lao pork loaf is highlighted.
Union Market District - Caribbean
Cane
Trinidadian street food: doubles, channa, pepperpot and brisket served in a coconut shell.
Union Market District - Japanese / Ramen
Toki Underground
Reservations-only ramen bar with five ramen choices.
Union Market District - Asian
Maketto
Shared plates drawing on flavors from across Asia, often starting with shrimp dumplings made with Cambodian fish sauce and dill.
Union Market District
Browse by cuisine
Every restaurant, A to Z.
- Albi★ Michelin starMiddle Eastern · Navy Yard · Michael Rafidi's open-fire Palestinian-inspired cooking, with arak on the drinks list.
- Amparo FonditaBib GourmandMexican / Contemporary · Dupont Circle · Christian Irabién's shared-plates Mexican menu built on in-house nixtamalized tortillas.
- Ben's Chili BowlDC iconChili / Hot dogs · 14th Street · U Street location of the chili counter whose signage reads 'A Washington Landmark since 1958'; open Sun–Thu 11am–11pm and Fri–Sat 11am–4am.
- Ben's Chili Bowl (H Street)Chili / Hot dogs · Union Market District · H Street NE location of Ben's Chili Bowl ('A Washington Landmark since 1958'), open daily 11am–9pm, serving its chili dogs and half-smokes.
- Bresca★ Michelin starContemporary / American · 14th Street · Ryan Ratino's dining room with gold accents and a moss wall; signatures include a foie gras 'negroni' and pappardelle with lamb ragù.
- CaneBib GourmandCaribbean · Union Market District · Trinidadian street food: doubles, channa, pepperpot and brisket served in a coconut shell.
- Causa★ Michelin starPeruvian / Latin American · 14th Street · Carlos Delgado's Nikkei-influenced Peruvian tasting menu on the ground floor of a two-concept Blagden Alley space.
- Dauphine'sBib GourmandCreole · CityCenterDC · Three-level New Orleans-style restaurant; oysters Dauphine and blackened soft-shell crab are highlighted.
- Elcielo Washington DC★ Michelin starColombian / Contemporary · Union Market District · Juan Manuel Barrientos's Colombian tasting menus in two dining rooms next to La Cosecha; the corn broth and 'chocotherapy' dessert are highlighted.
- Finn & FireSeafood / Steak · Old Town Alexandria · Chef Ghazal Amir (of the Crab Cab food truck) moved into a storefront on North Pitt Street serving crab and shrimp dishes plus steak.
- Fiola★ Michelin starItalian / Contemporary · Penn Quarter & Chinatown · Regional Italian cooking drawing on Roman and Venetian flavors; the square duck-ragù pasta (Cubetto Genovese D'Antra) is a highlighted dish.
- Imperfecto: The Chef's Table★ Michelin starLatin American · Georgetown · A few seats at a counter beneath chef Enrique Limardo's station, run as a restaurant within a restaurant.
- Jônt★ Michelin starContemporary · 14th Street · Ryan Ratino's counter upstairs from Bresca, built around seafood and meat from Japan; courses include wagyu tartare tarts and Hokkaido uni with bluefin tuna.
- Karizma Modern IndianBib GourmandIndian / Contemporary · Penn Quarter & Chinatown · Main dining room of a two-concept space (Karma runs a separate tasting menu); the chèvre and herb naan and lamb kakori kebab are noted.
- L'ArdenteBib GourmandItalian · Penn Quarter & Chinatown · Wood-burning grill and pizza oven with counter seats; the 40-layer short rib lasagna is the signature.
- Laos in TownBib GourmandSouth East Asian / Lao · Union Market District · Lao menu with a full vegan section; the papaya salad with Lao pork loaf is highlighted.
- LapisBib GourmandAfghan · Adams Morgan · Afghan cooking the inspectors call light and fresh; chopawn (grilled lamb chops with cardamom rice) is singled out.
- Le DiplomateDC iconFrench · 14th Street · Logan Circle French brasserie; Washingtonian's 2026 list points to the steak au poivre, onion soup, trout amandine and the cheeseburger at the bar.
- Little Pearl★ Michelin starContemporary · Eastern Market & Barracks Row · Glass-enclosed, sunroom-like dining room from the Rose's Luxury team; the 'angel egg' amuse is a constant on a changing menu.
- MakettoBib GourmandAsian · Union Market District · Shared plates drawing on flavors from across Asia, often starting with shrimp dumplings made with Cambodian fish sauce and dill.
- MamanFrench cafe / Bakery · Old Town Alexandria · French cafe and bakery in the former Foxtrot space on King Street, for coffee and pastries.
- Martin's TavernAmerican · Georgetown · Georgetown tavern open since 1933 serving classic American fare for four generations; JFK proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier here and the 'proposal booth' is still requested.
- Masseria★ Michelin starItalian · Union Market District · Nicholas Stefanelli's Puglia-influenced menu in a former warehouse with a glass-encased wine cellar.
- minibar by José Andrés★ Michelin starCreative · Penn Quarter & Chinatown · Cocktails and snacks in an all-white bar, then about a dozen seats at a wood-topped kitchen counter; dishes include trompe l'oeil cauliflower with caviar and a jamón chawanmushi with sea urchin.
- Mita★ Michelin starVegetarian / Latin American · 14th Street · Plant-based Latin American tasting menus in short and long formats from Tatiana Mora and Miguel Guerra; the arepa basket comes with guasacaca.
- Old Ebbitt GrillAmerican · CityCenterDC · Downtown tavern with Victorian-style rooms, American food and oyster specials; open from 8am weekdays and 9am weekends until 2am.
- Omakase at Barracks Row★ Michelin starJapanese / Sushi · Eastern Market & Barracks Row · Sushi counter up a metal staircase on Barracks Row run by Yi 'Ricky' Wang, who trained under Daisuke Nakazawa.
- OyamelBib GourmandMexican · Penn Quarter & Chinatown · José Andrés's Mexican small plates with a ceviche bar; the inspectors point to the black bean soup with avocado leaves and cotija.
- Oyster Oyster★ Michelin starVegetarian / Contemporary · 14th Street · Rob Rubba's vegetable tasting menu (also a MICHELIN Green Star); dishes include eggplant agnolotti in roasted corn broth.
- Pineapple and Pearls★ Michelin starContemporary · Eastern Market & Barracks Row · Aaron Silverman's theatrical tasting menu with tableside presentations; dishes riff on Southern cooking and luxury ingredients, such as a walnut lobster.
- Rania★ Michelin starIndian / Contemporary · Penn Quarter & Chinatown · Contemporary Indian fine dining; signatures include chana masala panisse with green garlic chutney and hay-aged pork vindaloo.
- Residents Cafe & BarBib GourmandContemporary · Dupont Circle · Two-level black-painted row house with a front patio; Turkish eggs at brunch and chicken schnitzel at night.
- Rooster & Owl★ Michelin starContemporary / Fusion · 14th Street · Husband-and-wife-run spot where diners mix and match Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Asian-influenced dishes, with wine pairings matched at the bar.
- Rose's Luxury★ Michelin starContemporary · Eastern Market & Barracks Row · Family-style prix fixe on Barracks Row; signatures include pork and lychee salad and fusilli with sweet pea cream, feta and mint.
- Stellina PizzeriaBib GourmandPizza / Italian · Union Market District · Neo-Neapolitan pizzeria with a wood-burning oven; pizzas come whole for diners to cut at the table.
- Sushi Nakazawa Washington DC★ Michelin starJapanese / Sushi · Penn Quarter & Chinatown · Second location of Daisuke Nakazawa's sushi counter, inside the Waldorf Astoria; a 20-course omakase at a marble counter that runs about two hours.
- The Dabney★ Michelin starAmerican / Contemporary · 14th Street · Jeremiah Langhorne's Mid-Atlantic cooking from a wood-fired hearth in a brick-walled Blagden Alley room.
- The MajesticAmerican · Old Town Alexandria · Art Deco King Street restaurant that reopened in April 2026 under new owner and chef Santiago Lopez; its coconut cake has been served since 2009. Weekend brunch.
- Toki UndergroundBib GourmandJapanese / Ramen · Union Market District · Reservations-only ramen bar with five ramen choices.
- Unconventional DinerBib GourmandAmerican · 14th Street · Reworked diner classics such as kale nachos and meatloaf with sriracha and morel gravy; reservations advised.
- Xiquet★ Michelin starSpanish · Georgetown · Third-floor room with a handful of tables serving Valencian food from a smoker and wood-fired hearth; the rice dishes are the standout.
- YellowBib GourmandMiddle Eastern · Georgetown · Michael Rafidi's all-day Georgetown cafe built around a wood-burning oven; expect a line.
- Your Only FriendBib GourmandGastropub / American · 14th Street · New in 2025: a sandwich shop crossed with a cocktail bar; the 'Hot Nug' is chicken nuggets with Nashville hot sauce.
- ZaytinyaBib GourmandMediterranean · Penn Quarter & Chinatown · Mezze-focused Greek, Turkish and Lebanese menu with a wine list strong in Greek and Lebanese labels.
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