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Dining guides for Washington.

Choose where to eat with 91 Washington dining guides. Browse by cuisine, dish, neighborhood or occasion.

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91 guides

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Pick the night, not the cuisine

Sometimes the question is not what you are craving, it is what the evening needs to be.

All occasion guides →
Most Romantic Restaurants in DC
Romantic

Most Romantic Restaurants in DC

The rooms built for a proposal, an anniversary, or pretending it is one.
By Marguerite Pryor · 12 restaurants · Updated July 2026
 12 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in DC
Fine Dining

12 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in DC

The dress-up rooms, ranked by what actually lands on the table.
By Marguerite Pryor · 12 restaurants · Updated September 2026
 Best Brunch in DC: Local Favorites
Brunch

Best Brunch in DC: Local Favorites

Weekend-only tables, long pours, and the dishes that earn the wait.
By Nia Bramwell · 10 restaurants · Updated October 2026
 Hidden Gem Restaurants in DC Locals Love
Hidden Gems

Hidden Gem Restaurants in DC Locals Love

No PR machine and no line around the block. The rooms regulars keep quiet.
By Nia Bramwell · 12 restaurants · Updated July 2026
 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Fairfax, VA Locals Love
Hidden Gem

Hidden Gem Restaurants in Fairfax, VA Locals Love

No. 1 right now: JINYA Ramen Bar - Fairfax.
By Nia Bramwell · 12 restaurants · Updated August 2026
 Most Romantic Restaurants in Fairfax, VA
Most Romantic

Most Romantic Restaurants in Fairfax, VA

No. 1 right now: JINYA Ramen Bar - Fairfax.
By Nia Bramwell · 12 restaurants · Updated August 2026

You already know what you want

Go straight to the dish. The marquee cravings, each ranked on its own.

All cuisines & dishes →
Best Tacos in DC Tacos in DC12 restaurants The Best Burger Restaurants in DC Burger6 restaurants The Best Mexican Spots in DC Mexican Spots in DC12 restaurants Where to Eat the Best Pizza in DC Pizza in DC10 restaurants Best BBQ Restaurants in the DMV BBQ8 restaurants Where to Eat the Best Ramen in DC Ramen in DC4 restaurants

Where each part of town actually eats

The headline rooms are only part of the story. These are the spots locals drive to.

All neighborhoods →
12 Best Restaurants in Bethesda, MD
Restaurants in Bethesda, MD

12 Best Restaurants in Bethesda, MD

By Nia Bramwell · 12 restaurants · Updated October 2026
 Best Restaurants in Dupont Circle
Restaurants in Dupont Circle

Best Restaurants in Dupont Circle

By Marguerite Pryor · 12 restaurants · Updated October 2026
 Best Restaurants in Georgetown
Restaurants in Georgetown

Best Restaurants in Georgetown

By Marguerite Pryor · 12 restaurants · Updated October 2026
 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Alexandria, VA Locals Love
Hidden Gem

Hidden Gem Restaurants in Alexandria, VA Locals Love

By Nia Bramwell · 12 restaurants · Updated July 2026
 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Arlington, VA Locals Love
Hidden Gem

Hidden Gem Restaurants in Arlington, VA Locals Love

By Nia Bramwell · 12 restaurants · Updated July 2026
 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Falls Church, VA Locals Love
Hidden Gem

Hidden Gem Restaurants in Falls Church, VA Locals Love

By Selam Asfaw · 12 restaurants · Updated July 2026

Real people, not an algorithm with a logo

Every guide starts with the review data, then gets sorted, written, and argued over by a desk that eats in this city every week.

How we build a guide →
Marguerite Pryor
Marguerite PryorFood Editor, Top of DC
Nia Bramwell
Nia Bramwell
Selam Asfaw
Selam Asfaw

Browse every guide

91 guides

By cuisine 48 guidesBack to search

10 Best Restaurants in Herndon, VA№ 1: Amphora's Diner Deluxe · 10 restaurants10 Best Steakhouse Restaurants in DC№ 1: Seoul Prime · 10 restaurants12 Best French Restaurants in DC№ 1: La Grande Boucherie DC · 12 restaurants12 Best Restaurants in DC№ 1: Keren Restaurant · 12 restaurants12 Best Restaurants in Vienna, VA№ 1: Pizza Vienna · 12 restaurantsBest Afghan Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: Kabob Corner · 12 restaurantsBest Asian Fusion Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: Teaism Dupont Circle · 12 restaurantsBest BBQ Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: Gyuzo Japanese BBQ - Wagyu / Sushi / Ramen - All You Can Eat · 8 restaurantsBest Caribbean in DC: Local Favorites№ 1: Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi · 5 restaurantsBest Carnitas in DC№ 1: Oyamel · 12 restaurantsBest Ethiopian in DC: Local Favorites№ 1: Ethiopic · 12 restaurantsBest Gastropub Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: Punch Bowl Social · 8 restaurantsBest Greek Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: Nostos Restaurant · 12 restaurantsBest Half-Smokes in DC№ 1: Old Ebbitt Grill · 12 restaurantsBest Hummus in DC№ 1: Zaytinya · 8 restaurantsBest Italian in DC: Local Favorites№ 1: RPM Italian · 12 restaurantsBest Korean in DC: Local Favorites№ 1: Iron Age | Korean Steak House · 6 restaurantsBest Lebanese Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: Lebanese Kitchen Restaurant VA · 8 restaurantsBest Persian Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: Maman Joon Kitchen · 8 restaurantsBest Peruvian Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: China Chilcano · 12 restaurantsTicketsDC event tickets: every major venue, ranked.Arenas to theaters, ranked by what is actually on sale.Find seats and datesBest Restaurants in 14th Street & Logan Circle№ 1: Le Diplomate · 8 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Clarendon & Courthouse, Arlington, VA№ 1: AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon · 9 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Cleveland Park & Woodley Park№ 1: Siam House, Washington, D.C. · 9 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Eden Center, Falls Church, VA№ 1: Firepan Korean BBQ · 4 restaurants
Featured PlacementOwn a business in Washington?Put your business in front of locals already deciding where to go. Featured spots sit inside the rankings people actually read.See placement options
Best Restaurants in Mount Pleasant№ 1: Tamashaa - Modern Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar · 7 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Penn Quarter & Downtown№ 1: Kitchen + Kocktails By Kevin Kelley - DC · 11 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Petworth№ 1: Timber Pizza Co. Petworth · 6 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Tenleytown & Friendship Heights№ 1: Acqua Bistecca · 8 restaurantsBest Restaurants in The Wharf & Southwest№ 1: Falafel Inc · 12 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Union Market & Ivy City№ 1: Beat The Bomb DC · 10 restaurantsBest Salvadoran Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: El Sol Restaurant & Tequileria · 12 restaurantsBest Seafood in DC: Local Favorites№ 1: Fiola Mare · 12 restaurantsBest Thai in DC: Local Favorites№ 1: Thip Khao · 11 restaurantsBest Tortas in DC№ 1: Oyamel · 12 restaurantsBest Turkish Restaurants in the DMV№ 1: Kolbeh Turkish Cuisine · 8 restaurantsDelis & Sandwiches in DC: Local Favorites№ 1: Greek Deli & Catering · 12 restaurantsThe Best Chinese Restaurants in DC№ 1: CHIKO · 9 restaurantsThe Best Indian Spots in DC№ 1: Daru · 11 restaurantsThe Best Latin American Spots in DC№ 1: Seven Reasons · 12 restaurantsThe Best Mexican Spots in DC№ 1: Oyamel · 12 restaurants
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The Best New American Spots in DC№ 1: Blue Duck Tavern · 12 restaurantsThe Best Restaurants in Fairfax, VA№ 1: Lebanese Kitchen Restaurant VA · 12 restaurantsThe Best Restaurants in Gaithersburg, MD№ 1: Café Sophie · 11 restaurantsThe Best Restaurants in Sterling, VA№ 1: Darya Kabob · 9 restaurantsThe Best Sushi Spots in DC№ 1: Sushi By Bou- DC @ CitizenM Hotel L'enfant Plaza · 11 restaurantsWhere to Eat the Best American in DC№ 1: Old Ebbitt Grill · 12 restaurantsWhere to Eat the Best Mediterranean in DC№ 1: Zaytinya · 9 restaurantsWhere to Eat the Best Middle Eastern in DC№ 1: Falafel Inc · 7 restaurants

By neighborhood 29 guidesBack to search

12 Best Restaurants in Bethesda, MD№ 1: M&N's Pizza · 12 restaurantsBest Mac and Cheese in Arlington, VA№ 1: Bob & Edith's Diner · 9 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Adams Morgan№ 1: Lapis · 10 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Annandale, VA№ 1: Dal Shabu Hot Pot (달샤부) · 5 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Capitol Hill№ 1: AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill · 7 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Columbia Heights№ 1: Tamashaa - Modern Indian Restaurant & Cocktail Bar · 5 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Del Ray, Alexandria, VA№ 1: The Birchmere · 8 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Dupont Circle№ 1: Keren Restaurant · 12 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Georgetown№ 1: Falafel Inc · 12 restaurantsBest Restaurants in H Street & NoMa№ 1: St. Anselm · 5 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Navy Yard№ 1: Rose's Luxury · 8 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Old Town Alexandria, VA№ 1: Jula's on the Potomac · 10 restaurantsBest Restaurants in Shaw & U Street№ 1: Le Diplomate · 9 restaurantsBest Vietnamese in Falls Church, VA: Local Favorites№ 1: Huong Viet Restaurant · 9 restaurantsBest Wings in Arlington, VA№ 1: Bob & Edith's Diner · 8 restaurants
Hidden Gem Restaurants in Alexandria, VA Locals Love№ 1: Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen + Bar · 12 restaurantsHidden Gem Restaurants in Arlington, VA Locals Love№ 1: AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon · 12 restaurantsHidden Gem Restaurants in Falls Church, VA Locals Love№ 1: Peking Gourmet Inn · 12 restaurantsHidden Gem Restaurants in Rockville, MD Locals Love№ 1: Gyuzo Japanese BBQ - Wagyu / Sushi / Ramen - All You Can Eat · 12 restaurantsHidden Gem Restaurants in Silver Spring, MD Locals Love№ 1: Parkway Deli & Restaurant · 12 restaurantsMost Romantic Restaurants in Alexandria, VA№ 1: Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen + Bar · 12 restaurantsMost Romantic Restaurants in Arlington, VA№ 1: AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon · 12 restaurantsThe Best Mexican Spots in Arlington, VA№ 1: Guapo's Cocina & Bar · 6 restaurantsThe Best Restaurants in Alexandria, VA№ 1: Hank's Oyster Bar, Old Town · 12 restaurantsThe Best Restaurants in Arlington, VA№ 1: Palette 22 · 12 restaurantsThe Best Restaurants in Falls Church, VA№ 1: 2941 Restaurant · 12 restaurantsThe Best Restaurants in Rockville, MD№ 1: La Brasa Latin Cuisine · 12 restaurantsThe Best Restaurants in Silver Spring, MD№ 1: The Big Greek Cafe · 12 restaurantsWhere to Eat the Best Korean in Annandale, VA№ 1: Honey Pig BBQ · 6 restaurants

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