Eat what food
in Washington, DC?
DC's tables span half-smokes and Ethiopian injera to embassy-row fine dining and some of the best Salvadoran pupusas anywhere. When the options are this global, let one tap make the call.
Pick my food in Washington, DC →How it works
Tap the button and Eat What Food? pulls real restaurants near downtown Washington, DC from Google Places, then picks one that's open right now — biased toward well-rated spots so the one decision we make rarely disappoints. No filters to wade through, no endless scrolling.
Don't like the first pick? Hit Pick again for a different nearby spot — you won't see the same place twice. Every result links straight to directions and a phone number. Free, works on your phone, no signup. Craving something specific? Tap a cuisine on the next screen first.
10 Washington restaurants worth the trip
Washington dining mixes power-lunch tradition with deep local soul, from half-smokes on U Street to oysters in wood-paneled saloons near the White House. The capital's storied institutions have fed presidents, students, and civil-rights history alike, blending Southern roots, Georgetown clubbiness, and old-world immigrant kitchens into a remarkably enduring food culture. Below are ten DC institutions that have earned their lines. Use it as a shortlist, or tap the button above and let one nearby pick settle dinner for you right now.
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Old Ebbitt GrillDowntown
Washington's oldest saloon, dating to 1856, famous for its raw bar and oysters.
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Ben's Chili BowlU Street
Beloved since 1958, serving its signature half-smoke and chili through decades of history.
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Florida Avenue GrillShaw
Soul-food institution since 1944, billed as the world's oldest, dishing scrapple and fried chicken.
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Martin's TavernGeorgetown
Family-run pub since 1933, home to the booth where JFK proposed.
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The TombsGeorgetown
Collegiate pub beneath 1789 since 1962, a Georgetown University haunt.
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1789 RestaurantGeorgetown
Refined Federal-style townhouse restaurant since 1962.
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Old EuropeGlover Park
German restaurant since 1948, beloved for schnitzel and Oktoberfest.
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Tabard InnDupont Circle
Historic inn and restaurant since 1922, seasonal American cooking by a fireside lounge.
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A. LitteriIvy City
Italian deli and grocery since 1926, famous for overstuffed subs near Union Market.
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The MonocleCapitol Hill
Capitol Hill's first fine-dining restaurant, open since 1960, favored by senators.
Restaurant names link to Google Maps for directions, hours, and current reviews. Hours and availability change — call ahead for the famous ones.
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