Restaurants in District of Columbia

Food Culture & Dining Scene in District of Columbia

Washington, D.C.'s restaurant scene is among the most dynamic and diverse in the United States, fueled by an international population, diplomatic communities, and a booming local economy. The half-smoke, a larger, spicier cousin of the hot dog served at Ben's Chili Bowl since 1958, is the city's most iconic street food. D.C. is the undisputed capital of Ethiopian dining in America, with dozens of Ethiopian restaurants along U Street and in the Adams Morgan neighborhood serving injera platters of doro wat, kitfo, and tibs. The city's diplomatic presence brings authentic cuisine from virtually every country, with standout Salvadoran, Vietnamese, Chinese, and West African restaurants scattered across neighborhoods. Georgetown and the Penn Quarter/Chinatown area host upscale dining, while the 14th Street and H Street corridors have become hotbeds of independent restaurant openings. Capitol Hill's Eastern Market and the Wharf development on the Southwest Waterfront add historic market dining and waterfront seafood. Mumbo sauce, a tangy sweet-and-sour condiment, is a uniquely D.C. creation found at Chinese carryout shops and fried-chicken joints across the city. With approximately 3,400 restaurants packed into just 68 square miles, D.C. has the highest restaurant density per capita in the nation.