14 Best Restaurants in Washington DC

Dining in America’s capital means a diversity of flavors! Here are the best restaurants in Washington DC.

One of my favorite things to do when I visit Washington DC is to eat! There are so many delicious restaurants to choose from, but I’ve rounded up some of my favorites. Read on to find out where to eat in Washington DC.

Where to Eat in Washington DC

1. Bulldog Sports Bar

Pizza, Sports Bar

Bulldog is an unassuming sports bar in Chinatown that serves pizza, wings, loaded fries, sliders, and mac & cheese skillets.

The vibes are a little bit hard rock, but it’s not so loud inside that you can’t have a conversation. They have multiple levels of seating, and you can kick back and enjoy a game.

I recommend the Carnivore Pizza, the Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings (I love that their garlic parm is wet instead of a dry rub like most other places!), and their Caesar Salad.

713 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001

2. Levain Bakery

Bakery, Cookies, Breakfast

Levain Bakery is a popular Georgetown bakery for their huge cookies (and I mean, huge!)

They’re most known for their Chocolate Chip Walnut cookies, but all of their options are delicious. They also sell loaf cakes, breads, and pastries, so this is a great spot to grab breakfast on the go. Just don’t be surprised if it’s crowded at all hours!

My favorites were their Dark Chocolate Chip and their Two Chip Chocolate Chip Cookies. Kevin liked their Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie the best.

3131 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007

3. Irish Channel Restaurant & Pub

Irish, Pub

Irish Channel Restaurant & Pub is a Penn Quarter/Chinatown restaurant run by a certified chef from Cork County, Ireland. The restaurant is located at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Washington, DC/Downtown.

As you would imagine, they serve authentic Irish pub classics, have live music three nights a week, and open early for Tottenham Spurs Premiere League games.

I recommend the Guinness Stew or the Fish N’ Chips, both classic dishes.

500 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001

4. Clyde’s of Georgetown

American, Bar

Clyde’s of Georgetown is a long-running local chain that started here in Georgetown in 1963. This saloon-like restaurant was one of the first in Washington DC to offer locally-raised and sustainable foods.

Clyde’s is Georgetown’s original local watering hole. Their menu serves brunch every day until 4 p.m., burgers and sandwiches, and American classics from Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish to Meatloaf.

I recommend the French Toast or the Eggs Chesapeake if you’re in the mood for brunch, or the Chicken #1 sandwich for lunch or dinner.

Clyde’s of Georgetown: 3236 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Clyde’s of Gallery Place: 707 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

5. Hank’s Oyster Bar

Seafood, Oysters

Hank’s Oyster Bar has been serving up delicious seafood in DC since 2005. They have two DC locations: one at The Wharf and one at Dupont Circle. That means you’re never too far from Hank’s when you’re exploring DC’s top attractions!

On the menu, you’ll find a fresh selection of East and West coast oysters, crabs, lobster rolls, po’boys, and seafood platters. And during cherry blossom season, they have some great Japanese-inspired specials.

I recommend the Popcorn Shrimp & Calamari to start, and the Fried Oyster Dinner or the Seafood Fettuccine.

The Wharf: 701 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Dupont Circle: 1624 Q St NW STE 100, Washington, DC 20009

6. Whiskey Charlie

Rooftop Bar

Whiskey Charlie is a rooftop bar at The Wharf on top of the Canopy by Hilton Washington DC The Wharf.

They have a 10th floor outdoor deck with waterfront views, an indoor lounge, premium cocktails, and finger foods. This is a great place for pre-dinner drinks and appetizers.

I recommend the Gulf Shrimp Cocktail and the Mese Hummus to eat. To drink, go for the Purser’s Bane, the Coastal Vibes, or the Captain’s Choice.

975 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20024

7. Yard House

American, Bar

Yard House is high-end sports bar chain with a location in DC’s Chinatown serving up classic American bar fare.

They have a huge menu with over 100 American-style dishes made from scratch daily, from burgers to tacos to steaks. And they have the world’s largest selection of draft beer with 100 taps.

I recommend the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque or the “Everything-Crusted” Ahi Tuna sandwich.

812 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

8. Momiji

Japanese, Sushi

Momiji is a Chinatown restaurant for some great Japanese food, sushi, and hibachi.

The restaurant has two levels with a rooftop deck. Their menu features creatively named rolls, handmade cocktails, and delicious hibachi meals.

I recommend the Rock n’ Roll or the Sushi Sandwich.

505 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001

9. Tiki TNT

Bar, Tropical

Tiki TNT & Potomac Distilling Company is a restaurant and bar atop a rum distillery at The Wharf where you can find Hawaiian-themed dishes. Come here for the tiki vibes, beachy escape, and open-air rooftop dining by the waterfront.

On the menu, you’ll find small bites like poke and shrimp as well as a very few bigger items like a burger and flat bread.

I recommend the Tuna Poke, the Bang Bang Shrimp, or the Pu Pu Platter for a little of everything.

1130 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

10. City Tap House

American, Bar

City Tap House is a regional chain with locations in Penn Quarter and Dupont Circle. This tap house serves p craft food and craft beer.

The menu serves American bar favorites from sandwiches to brick oven pizza to sirloin. The food and drinks here were delicious, but I didn’t like their ordering system.

You don’t get a waiter, instead you have to order from your phone, their system was incredibly slow, and there’s no other option. I feel like that’s a huge accessibility problem. Older folks who aren’t as adept at using their phones or international visitors who don’t have service wouldn’t be able to eat here (and there wasn’t any public wi-fi either).

That said, I do recommend the Rigatoni Roma or the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup. To drink, I recommend the Cucumber Crusher or the Passionista.

Penn Quarter: 901 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Dupont: 1250 Connecticut Ave NW suite 105, Washington, DC 20036

11. Tony Cheng’s

Chinese, Asian

Tony Cheng’s Mongolian Restaurant is a multi-level Chinatown restaurant for classic Chinese dishes.

You’ll find dim sum being served upstairs and a Mongolian barbecue buffet served downstairs. We enjoyed doing their dim sum.

I recommend the Mongolian Beef, the General Tso’s Chicken, and Chow Mein.

619 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001

12. Food Court at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City

Food Court

If you’re out shopping or maybe visited the Pentagon for a tour in the morning and need a quick place for lunch, the food court at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City has some good options.

1100 S Hayes St, Arlington, VA 22202

Restaurants at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Need somewhere to eat in the airport before you fly out? Here are my recommendations:

13. Matsutake Sushi

Japanese, Sushi

Matsutake Sushi is a full-service Japanese and sushi restaurant in the Regan National Airport. You’ll find it in the main hall of Terminal 2 past security, near C Gates.

They have signature sushi rolls, hibachi-style dishes, noodle and rice bowls, plus a bar.

I recommend the Dynamite Roll and the Yellowtail Roll.

Reagan National Airport National Hall, 2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Rd, Arlington, VA 22202

14. American Tap Room

American, Diner

American Tap Room is a full-service American restaurant in the Regan National Airport. You’ll find it in Terminal 2 past security, in the middle of D Gates.

It’s called a tap room, but really I found the menu more diner-style. They serve breakfast, sandwiches, and salads. They also have a full bar with cocktails and plenty of beer.

I recommend the Basil Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich or the Steak Sandwich.

Reagan National Airport, 2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Rd, Arlington, VA 22202

Restaurants in Washington DC Map

Ready to take a bite out of these best restaurants in Washington DC? Use the map below to plan out your next meal!

I hope you enjoy all these amazing Washington DC restaurants!

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Ready to visit Washington DC? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Washington DC using Hotels.com.
• Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.
• Explore DC in a New Way: Enjoy a Mystery Picnic in Washington DC to discover more of the city.

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Cheers!

Paige

What are your favorite restaurants in Washington DC? Let me know in the comments!