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The Top Restaurants by Cuisine in Washington, D.C.

The OpenTable team

Where’s the best Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, or Indian food in town? Where’s the best steak, the best pizza, the best plate of oysters? We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among Washington D.C.'s most expert, seasoned diners, broken down by each type of cuisine.

15 Restaurants
Updated February 19, 2020
Restaurants:Unconventional Diner, Centrolina, Le Diplomate…
Price Range:$$ - $$$
Cuisines:American, Italian, French…
Neighborhoods:Shaw, Downtown, Logan Circle…

Unconventional Diner

$$$$·American·
Shaw
1,612 reviews
  • Great for Brunch
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Creative Cuisine
AMERICAN: Unconventional Diner is, in fact, an unconventional diner; it’s a place you’ll find dishes like “French dip” pappardelle, sriracha-glazed meatloaf, foie-gras PB&J, and sh…Read more
97% recommended
Not available on OpenTable
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Centrolina

$$$$·Italian·
Downtown
1,756 reviews
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Great for Outdoor Dining
  • Good for a Date
ITALIAN: Tucked into the swanky CenterCityDC development is Centrolina, chef Amy Brandwein’s bright, buzzing Italian restaurant. Here, you’ll find dishes like buckwheat spaghetti a…Read more
96% recommended
Italian in District of Columbia
Table for 2 today

Le Diplomate

$$$$·French·
Logan Circle
9,578 reviews
  • Special Occasion
  • Great for Outdoor Dining
  • Great for Brunch
FRENCH: Le Diplomate, a pitch-perfect French bistro in Logan Circle, is undoubtedly one of the greatest spots to brunch in the city. (Ask anyone from DC and they’ll agree.) You can…Read more
94% recommended
Most Booked in Washington, D.C. Area
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The Salt Line

$$$$·Seafood·
Navy Yard
1,380 reviews
  • Great for Outdoor Dining
  • Waterfront
  • Scenic View
SEAFOOD: On the waterfront near the Navy Yard you’ll find The Salt Line, a seafood restaurant that celebrates the cooking traditions of New England and the Chesapeake Bay. This mea…Read more
93% recommended
Outdoor Dining in Washington, D.C. Area
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Zaytinya

$$$$·Mediterranean·
Penn Quarter
15,911 reviews
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Tapas
  • Good for a Date
MEDITERRANEAN: Chef Jose Andres is a DC legend, with restaurants of all types delighting diners around the city. Zaytinya is his Middle Eastern spot, with a myriad of dips and sala…Read more
96% recommended
Most Booked in District of Columbia
Table for 2 today

Oyamel

$$$$·Mexican·
Penn Quarter
8,902 reviews
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Good for a Date
  • Authentic
MEXICAN: Oyamel is one of those restaurants that manages to be elegant, refined, and a whole lot of fun. You’re here for upscale versions of Mexican street food—think tacos, cevich…Read more
91% recommended
Mexican in Washington, D.C. Area
Table for 2 today

Arroz

$$$$·Spanish·
Shaw
900 reviews
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Creative Cuisine
  • Good for a Date
SPANISH: Mike Isabella, a former Top Chef contestant, has amassed quite the restaurant empire here in DC. Arroz is his foray into Spanish cuisine, with hints of Portuguese and Moro…Read more
88% recommended
Not available on OpenTable
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Rasika West End

$$$$·Contemporary Indian·
West End
4,314 reviews
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Special Occasion
  • Hot Spot
INDIAN: There are few people in the country who cook Indian food like James Beard Award–winning chef Vikram Sunderam, and we’re lucky to have him in DC. The atmosphere is upscale b…Read more
95% recommended
Not available on OpenTable
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China Chilcano

$$$$·Peruvian·
Penn Quarter
2,763 reviews
  • Creative Cuisine
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Fun
PERUVIAN: China Chilcano is a Jose Andres restaurant specializing in the food of Peru—specifically chifa, the Chinese-influenced Peruvian cuisine, and nikkei, the Japanese-influenc…Read more
93% recommended
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Chaplin

$$$$·Japanese·
Shaw
917 reviews
  • Great for Outdoor Dining
  • Casual
  • Good for a Date
JAPANESE: You probably wouldn’t expect a Japanese restaurant to be Charlie Chaplin–themed—but at Chaplin, a ramen spot in Shaw, it works. Check out the vintage movie posters while …Read more
94% recommended
Table for 2 today

BLT Steak DC

$$$$·Steak·
Downtown
3,636 reviews
  • Special Occasion
  • Good for Anniversaries
  • Romantic
STEAKHOUSE: BLT Steak is a hit amongst the power-lunch-and-dinner crowd, and it’s not hard to see why: this is a first-rate steakhouse, with an impressive raw bar, a rainbow of sid…Read more
91% recommended
Steak in District of Columbia
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Lebanese Taverna - Washington DC

$$$$·Middle Eastern·
Woodley Park
1,068 reviews
  • Great for Lunch
  • Special Occasion
  • Neighborhood Gem
LEBANESE: Lebanese Taverna is a part of a group of restaurants that’s been serving Lebanese food for decades, and it’s clear they know what they’re doing. We recommend anything fro…Read more
90% recommended
Kid Friendly in Washington, D.C. Area
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DC Noodles

$$$$·Thai·
U Street Corridor
93 reviews
  • Neighborhood Gem
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Good for Groups
THAI: It’s pretty clear what’s on the menu at DC Noodles, a large, sleek Thai spot on U Street—and noodles you will get, whether they’re sauteed in a wok, tossed into a salad, or h…Read more
97% recommended
Not available on OpenTable
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Mandu - K Street

$$$$·Korean·
Mt. Vernon Square
553 reviews
  • Comfort Food
  • Good for a Date
  • Authentic
KOREAN: Mandu is a homestyle Korean restaurant beloved by locals and industry folk alike, serving classics like bibimbap, galbi, bulgogi, and, of course, top-notch mandu. We especi…Read more
95% recommended
Table for 2 today

Kapnos

$$$$·Greek·
U Street Corridor
1,338 reviews
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Good for Groups
  • Neighborhood Gem
GREEK: If you’re not hungry when you walk into Kapnos, chef Mike Isabella’s Greek restaurant, you certainly will be once you see the open kitchen, with spit-roasted meats getting b…Read more
93% recommended
Not available on OpenTable
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