The 10 Best Dishes to Eat Your Way Through DC

Washington, DC is a cultural hub. Its geographic location connects the North and South of the United States, and its role as a major entry point for immigrants has led to the establishment of hundreds of international communities.

The wonderful collaboration and harmony of the city's residents is reflected in its thriving restaurant scene—according to recent Yelp data, DC has the most new restaurants relative to its population. Throughout the city, you'll find traditional dishes from countries around the world and creative flavor fusions that draw a little inspiration from everywhere.

To make the most of dining in the neighborhood, dive into this list of delicious dishes that highlight the best of DC's award-winning dining scene.

Try the potato pierogi at Bresca

Bresca, a Michelin-starred modern French bistro, is located in the U St Corridor, one of DC's liveliest neighborhoods. The menu features several fun takes on European dishes, but the potato pierogi are a highlight—the secret lies in a family recipe for potato dough. Unlike other pierogi in the city, these delicious pockets are bread-like: fluffy, soft, and buttery. A heavenly bite.

How to get it: Bresca is very popular with the people in the neighborhood and seating is limited, so be sure to make a reservation a few weeks in advance.

Combine steak with roasted eggplant at CUT DC

DC is home to several celebrity chef restaurants, but Wolfgang Puck's CUT DC is truly worth a visit. Located on a narrow side street in the bustling Georgetown neighborhood in the historic Rosewood Hotel, this steakhouse is a foodie secret to DC's power brokers. Although there are plenty of fabulous steaks and ducks on the menu, a small fire-roasted eggplant deserves more attention. The charred, tender eggplant offers a delicious smoky flavor, dressed with a green curry peanut sauce.

How to get it: The small dining room is popular, so make reservations for dinner. Georgetown is notoriously car-unfriendly, so plan on a rideshare or wear comfortable shoes for the long walk from the nearest subway station.

Dive into lamb shank tacos at dLeña

DLeña is a sensual restaurant whose menu draws inspiration from all over Latin America, but whose heart is Mexican charm. Every dish is a delight, but the lamb shank imported from Australia is marinated for 24 hours and braised for five hours with Mexican spices, dried chile adobo, herbs and achiote pepper. The end result is meat that falls off the bone and crumbles to the touch. The huge portion is served with blue corn tortillas and a couple of sauces – there's enough to share, but it's understandable if you don't want to.

How to get it: DLeña is a popular place for celebrations, so it's best to make a reservation. It's less than 15 minutes' walk from the nearest metro station.

Indulge in Perry's Shrimp Katsu Burger

Perry's is a 40-year-old gem in the Adams Morgan neighborhood that serves modern Japanese comfort food. Despite the restaurant's longevity, nothing on the menu feels stale. Perry's menu has been revamped in recent years under the leadership of chef Masako Morishita, and her work has received much acclaim—she was recently awarded the James Beard Prize for emerging chefs. For me, the shrimp katsu burger was the only award winner. It's an imaginative, tall, hot and crispy (and somehow juicy) sandwich modeled after a similar menu item at Japanese McDonald's branches. After my first bite, I knew I'd order two.

How to get it: You'll want to make reservations for Perry's dinner. The Adams Morgan neighborhood isn't particularly car-friendly, nor is it close to a DC subway stop. Rideshare is your best bet.

Head to the coast with Capesante alla Capri at Cucina Morini

Cucina Morini is a newer restaurant that showcases southern Italian cuisine with a strong emphasis on the fish and seafood dishes found along the country's coast. One of the standout menu items is Capesante alla Capri – buttery scallops in a creamy herb risotto and juicy, sweet tomatoes.

If you want to take advantage of Cucina Morini's daily happy hour with a seven-dollar martini, arrive right at 5 p.m. to avoid crowds.

How to get it: This busy restaurant is quite spacious, so unless you're too keen on the happy hour specials, you should be fine without a reservation.

Enjoy Senegal's national dish at Moi Moi

Moi Moi is a West African and South American fusion restaurant just blocks from the White House. Ingredients like garri, a cassava-based grain, are used to bread and fry catfish South African-style, and one of the best dishes is their thieboudienne, the national dish of Senegal that is popular throughout West Africa. The one-pot meal consists of rice cooked in a spicy tomato stew, an abundance of vegetables like yams, carrots and eggplant, and a huge piece of fried red snapper. The whole platter is a filling wonder of flavors.

How to get it: Spots go fast at Moi Moi, so reserve a few weeks in advance. Parking is a gamble in this area. Consider public transportation or rideshare, but you shouldn't have any problems if you're driving and don't mind spending a few extra minutes looking for a parking spot.

Enjoy Dauphine’s Duck Jambalaya

Dauphine's draws inspiration from all over America, but is firmly rooted in New Orleans cuisine. The duck jambalaya is perhaps the best execution of its theme. The filling rice dish is brought to the table in a large, steaming pot and also served with sauerkraut and duck sausage.

How to get it: Dauphine's is located in the city center and is very easy to reach by public transport. There is usually room for spontaneous guests, but a reservation never hurts.

Enjoy beef ribs with saffron at Rania

Rania is a new Michelin-starred restaurant. Despite its prestige, Rania offers a surprisingly affordable four-course meal of modern Indian cuisine for $90. Much has been said about the popular snacks they serve as amuse-bouche, but further down the menu is a prime beef rib swimming in saffron nihari, a meat stew popular in South Asian countries.

How to get it: Make a reservation at Rania at least a few weeks in advance to ensure you get a spot. Rania is located in the city center and easy to get to, but it can get crowded on weekdays.

Visit Wingo's and try the local Mambo sauce

Wingo's is the go-to place for wings in DC, with dozens of dry and wet seasonings to choose from and mix and match. Order the six-pack of wings with Mambo sauce. Mambo sauce is a DC staple—think ketchup, sweet and sour sauce, and vinegary barbecue sauce mixed together. It's mostly available at local takeout joints, but sometimes you'll find it at a neighborhood dive bar. The soaked-but-never-soggy wings at Wingo's are one of the best ways to get acquainted with this local sauce.

How to get it: Wingo's has two locations. The Georgetown location is a takeout place, so you'll want to be careful where you sit down to eat. But the Glover Park location is a neighborhood pub with more parking.

Enjoy the delicious churros at Cranes

Cranes serves beautiful, delicious Spanish-Japanese fusion dishes, but their dessert menu has a perfect churro option that's worth trying. Chef Pepe Moncayo makes his churros with brown butter instead of the traditional choux pastry, resulting in a nuttier, more flavorful, and more delicious bite. The churros, generously coated in sugar, are long and thin without being hollow or too crunchy, and they're served with a sweet and savory miso caramel sauce and a rich black sesame chocolate sauce. If you're feeling adventurous, mix the sauces together! This is a dessert you'll want to eat again and again.

How to get it: Cranes is an upscale restaurant, but the churros are also available during lunch service, which offers a more casual experience. Cranes is conveniently located between several subway stations.