Best Restaurants in Washington DC: A Local's Picks

Ben's Chili Bowl (1213 U St NW, U Street) is the single most famous restaurant in DC and it earns the hype — half-smokes have been coming off this grill since 1958, and the Original Half Smoke 'all the way' (chili, mustard, onions, on a steamed bun) runs $9.79. Go for the food, but also go for the history: it's one of the few U Street businesses that stayed open through the 1968 riots, feeding National Guardsmen and residents alike. Expect a line at peak lunch and dinner hours; it moves fast. For something completely different but equally cheap, head to the Wharf and the Municipal Fish Market on Maine Avenue SW — the oldest continuously operating open-air fish market in the country, dating to 1805, floating right on the water. Order a fried shrimp or fish basket, or steamed Maryland blue crabs by the dozen in summer. It's the most authentically DC lunch you can get for under $20.

DC has one of the largest Ethiopian populations of any U.S. city outside Addis Ababa, and U Street is where you taste it. Dukem (1114-1118 U St NW), open since 1997, is the anchor of the strip and still does it best — order a combo platter for two or three people so you can try multiple stews (doro wat, the spicy chicken classic, is non-negotiable) scooped up with injera, the spongy sourdough flatbread that doubles as your utensil. Expect $15-25 per person and a lively, communal atmosphere, especially on weekends when the restaurant fills with DC's Ethiopian community, not just tourists — that's always the sign you're in the right place.

The Wharf transformed DC's Southwest waterfront from a place locals avoided into one of the best dinner destinations in the city, and seafood is the reason to go. Rappahannock Oyster Bar is the move if you want a proper raw bar — Chesapeake and Virginia oysters run roughly $3-4 each, shucked to order, with river views. Hank's Oyster Bar is the more casual, comfort-food sibling: think fried oyster po'boys and a lively happy hour. Both sit within a five-minute walk of the Municipal Fish Market, so you can genuinely do a crawl — market snack, then a proper seafood dinner, all along the same half-mile stretch of waterfront.

If you want one nicer dinner while you're in town, Rasika in Penn Quarter (633 D St NW) is the pick — modern Indian food that's been drawing praise from national critics for two decades, and the palak chaat (crispy fried spinach with tamarind and yogurt) is one of the most talked-about appetizers in the city. Entrees run $22-34, and reservations should be booked well ahead. For French bistro classics in a gorgeous restored 14th Street storefront, Le Diplomate (1601 14th St NW) does onion soup gratinée, steak frites, and a legendary weekend brunch; book two to three weeks out for prime weekend times.

Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th St NW) has been operating since 1856, making it DC's oldest saloon, just steps from the White House. The raw bar and oysters are the move, though the crab cakes and burgers hold up too. Over in Georgetown, Martin's Tavern (1264 Wisconsin Ave NW) has been family-run since 1933 and is famous as the spot where JFK proposed to Jackie in booth 3 — order the crab cake sandwich or the classic steak and eggs. If you'd rather sample a wider variety in one stop, Union Market in NoMa is a food hall with dozens of independent vendors under one roof. If you want a guided version of this kind of eating instead of DIY-ing your own route, our Food Tours cover Georgetown, U Street, and the rest of the food scene stop by stop.