Washington DC: Eat like a local
As much as Washington DC is famous for political drama and historical attractions, the city should also be known for an exciting culinary scene that offers a wide range of cuisines to entice every palate.
Even though fancier restaurants often make the news because they’re visited by famous people, there are numerous affordable restaurants and cafes in the heart of DC that serve incredibly delicious fare. Below are places I was lucky enough to stumble across or have local friends take me to. They are within walking distance to famous attractions so you don’t have to travel out of the way to find them.
My friends and I couldn’t get a table at another brunch restaurant nearby and managed to get one at Ambar. We are so lucky we did! None of us have tried Balkan food and were eager to give it a go.
They have a regular menu or an unlimited brunch, and we decided to go with the brunch to try a little bit of everything. The small plates kept coming! The dishes that stood out were the calamari, sesame crusted salmon, and the gorgeously plated dessert. In fact, all the dishes tasted delicious and the service was top-notch.
523 8th Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20003-2835
Mitsitam Café is located at the National Museum of the American Indian and is probably the best museum cafeteria food I’ve ever eaten! I learned from a friend that many people who work close by pop in there for lunch quite often.
The indigenous dishes are seasonal and focuses on different regions of the Western Hemisphere, and heavily feature corn, squash, beans, and avocados. I had grilled corn on my last visit and it was so good, I went back another day to have another! On this trip, I had the tamales and pozole (pork and hominy soup). The smoky and spicy salsa turned the tamales up a notch, and the pozole was rich and comforting.
4th St SW & Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
Located in the heart of the impossibly cool and eclectic Adams Morgan neighborhood, Tryst is a café loved by locals and tourists alike. They serve an all-day brunch and lunch, and an assortment of delicious tea and coffee drinks. While you’re in the neighborhood, do pop into The LINE Hotel housed in a 110-year old former church, to marvel at its gorgeous architecture.
Tryst: 2459 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
The LINE: 1770 Euclid St NW, Washington, DC 20009
If you step into Arepa Zone, be prepared to want to order everything! A main staple of South American cuisine, especially Colombian and Venezuelan, arepa is a type of unleavened bread made of ground maize dough.
The ones at Arepa Zone are stuffed with meat or veggie options and are filling and delicious. However, the most addictive item on the menu has to be the breaded cheese sticks called tequeños. They’re served with the zestiest garlic-cilantro dip that just makes them shine even more!
1121 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Located in historic Georgetown, Lady Camellia oozes Victorian charm in its décor, delicate porcelain dining sets, and gorgeous pastries.
The high tea set comes with finger sandwiches, scones, a choice of tea, and pastries they are well known for. It’s not a large space so you do have to make reservations ahead of time to get a table.
3261 Prospect St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Zorba’s Café is a well-loved local institution that’s been in Dupont Circle for more than 35 years! The menu features authentic Greek dishes that are reasonably priced and incredibly tasty. There are many options for vegetarians as well.
1612 20th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Here are some restaurants and cafes highly recommended by local friends in DC. I didn’t have the chance to visit them because of time constraints:
District Kitchen – American
Lebanese Taverna – Lebanese/Mediterranean
Duke’s – Gourmet Sandwiches
Oyamel – Mexican
Zaytinya – Mediterranean
Jinya Ramen Bar – Japanese
Rasika – Modern Indian
Teaism – Asian fusion
Baked & Wired – Bakery/Café
Georgia Brown’s – Southern food
This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.