
7 Best Restaurants In Washington, DC — What To Eat
I have a personal rule while traveling to never eat at chain restaurants unless they're specific to that area (or if I'm on a budget). My goal is to experience new foods and cultures, so this prevents me from ordering something "basic" that I could get anywhere else. So, for breakfast, I went to Teaism, which is an Asian-inspired restaurant and teahouse. They have three locations in DC (the one I went to is a block away from the White House) and serve all-day breakfast. I ordered their okonomiyaki dish, which was packed with flavor.
Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake that's made with shredded cabbage. The dish on its own is $11.50, but you can add turkey bacon or chicken apple sausage (which is what I did) for $15.50 total. I actually found this restaurant from several different viral videos on TikTok, and they all recommended this specific dish. It was super flavorful and VERY filling. There was also a sweet and tangy sauce layered between the Japanese pancake and fried eggs, and I desperately need it bottled up. It felt like a plate of Japanese soul food, and I can't wait to go back.
As someone who's lived in New York City for well over a decade, I've had my fair share of bagels. Call Your Mother is a neighborhood deli and bagel shop that came highlyyyyy recommended. They have savory and sweet "bangers" to match any mood you're in, like their "Jetski" (which comes with brisket, two different cheeses, Sofrito, and jalapeño) and their "Summit" (topped with peanut butter, Nutella, marshmallow fluff, and a banana). I ordered their Spicy Pastrami on a cheddar bagel and was not disappointed.
The Spicy Pastrami ($15) came with pickled veggies, jalapeño, and a jalapeño-herb mayo. I pride myself on being someone who can eat a lot, but I think most people would be able to get two meals out of this. Like, I should have paced myself better and saved the other half as a snack for later in the day because I was so full. Still, though, this was a great sandwich, and the pickled veggies were A+. The star was clearly the bagel though – it was dense without being heavy, crispy but not fluffy, and something I'd definitely order again.
Mumbo sauce (sometimes called "mambo" sauce) is a staple condiment at a lot of DC takeout spots. Most people use it to coat their chicken wings, fries, and nuggets, so I wanted to try it on all three. I scoured through every viral TikTok and Reddit thread from DC natives, and the two most-recommended places were Yum's II Carryout and Howard China. Yum's wasn't too far away from where I was staying, so that's where I ended up.
I got a three-piece order of wings, a 10-piece order of chicken nuggets, French fries, and an extra side of Mumbo sauce. In total, it cost $18.55. Mumbo sauce is pretty similar to ketchup, though it's somehow a bit more sour and sweeter. A lot of commenters stated that it's a little spicier as well, but maybe my palate isn't refined enough because I couldn't taste any spice at all. Overall, it's a fun, new sauce to try. Nothing revolutionary, but it's still very tasty.
I love a good sandwich. There's something kind of magical about a perfect ratio of meat, veggies, melted cheese, and toasted bread. My go-to spot in DC is Compliments Only, not just because their "Crunchy Boi" sandwich goes viral every month (with several videos hitting over 100k likes), but because it's genuinely so, so, so tasty.
The Crunchy Boi is topped with turkey, provolone, potato chips, garlic mayo, pickles, onions, shredded lettuce, oil, and vinegar. It cost $15. I personally don't think any sandwich should cost more than, like, $11 with tax, BUT I will say that this was massive. Still, I was so hungry that I scarfed it down within a few minutes. Even though it was more expensive than I would have liked, I'd still order it again.
DC actually has the largest Ethiopian population in the US, and my favorite authentic spot in the city is Chercher. My friend and I always split their deluxe vegan platter, which comes with ~10~ different sides. Neither of us is a vegan or vegetarian, but this platter is so freaking good that I order it every time I'm in the city.
The deluxe vegan platter is $22.99, and there's not a bad side in the bunch. All of their platters are so huge that I can't imagine anyone ever leaving hungry. Like, the table next to me had three people splitting a single platter, so, yeah, you'll be stuffed by the end of your meal.
Want to cook recipes in step-by-step mode right from your phone? Download the free Tasty app right now.
I'm 34 years old and only recently started drinking alcohol after taking a break for nearly a decade. But DC is home to a ton of great bars, so there's a lottttt to choose from. For a cheap night out, there's Cucina Morini, which offers $7 martinis during happy hour. But for inventive (and viral) drinks with a great atmosphere, my pick is Opaline Bar and Brasserie. This is the place to go to if you're trying to impress someone, your parents are in town, or you just want to treat yourself. They have a "First Ladies Cocktail" menu, and each drink is inspired by a different first lady. After all, this ~is~ DC.
All of their cocktails range from $16–$21. I ordered the Michelle Obama (the purple drink above), which is made with empress gin, lavender and blueberry essence, lemon juice, lavender leaves, and Fever-Tree club soda. My friend ordered the Dolly Madison, which is made from Jim Beam bourbon, lemon elixir, egg white, and Angostura bitters. Both were delicious. Fittingly, the Betty Ford drink is non-alcoholic.
I'm a chocolate guy, and I've never met a dessert I didn't like, so when I found out that Baked & Wired created the viral "cakecups" trend, I knew I needed to try them. A little different from cupcakes, these "cakecups" are small-batched cakes with a tonnnnn of frosting. Like, you simply can't go wrong. This family-owned bakery has a sister store, A Baked Joint, that I've also been to (for a breakfast sandwich, which was great!), so I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.
I ordered the Chocolate Doom (chocolate cake with a dark chocolate satin frosting). Other flavors range from Pistachio Honey to Dirty Chai to Red Velvet. Each cakecup costs $6.20, which, yeah, is more expensive than I would have liked. I was shocked that the Chocolate Doom wasn't too sweet or overpowering. My worry was that I'd only be able to handle a couple bites before getting severely overwhelmed by the sweetness, but that simply wasn't the case. I happily inhaled every single crumb.
I didn't want to make an "appetizers" category because there are simply too many to choose from, so I added a bonus "honorable mention" section for one of my favorite smaller plates in the city. I already mentioned Opaline above, but their charred octopus dish is so good that it deserves a special highlight.
The charred octopus is $19. It's served with fennel, heirloom cherry tomatoes, Castelvetrano olives, and saffron aioli. That aioli was magical. I've also had their Classic Caesar salad ($15), which thankfully did not skimp out on the parmesan cheese. I'm a firm believer that most of life's problems can be solved with a Caesar salad, and this one didn't disappoint.
Do you have a favorite DC food recommendation that didn't make the list? Feel free to share it in the comments below! If you'd like to remain anonymous, you can use this Google Form instead.
For thousands of really good recipes that you can cook from the comfort of your own home, download the free Tasty app for iOS and Android. No subscription required!

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
10 hours ago
- New York Post
There's a specific reason why those familiar double chime noises go off on airplanes, pilot says: ‘My anxiety is maxed out until I hear those'
There's a science to it. Oftentimes, as a passenger on a plane, various noises signal different things to the flight staff. Aside from the obvious seatbelt sign, passengers rarely know what communication is taking place around them – until now. While it sounds more serious than it is — the familiar double chime noise that goes off when a plane is taking off and landing is nothing of concern. The pilot, well-known on TikTok, shared the reasoning behind those random chimes. Getty Images/iStockphoto 'Those dings you hear throughout the cabin are when the pilots are climbing through or descending through 10,000 feet to significant altitude… a critical phase of flight so they double ding the flight attendants to let them know we're no longer in 'sterile'' and they can move around the aircraft, as explained by airline pilot @ in a recent TikTok video. 'Not before those double chimes and not after those double chimes when we're coming into landing,' can there be movement around the aircraft. Considering the helpful video has almost 3 million views — clearly this ding noise has piqued a lot of flyers' interest. Thankfully, this reassurance eased many anxious flyers in the comment section of the video. 'I wish you could literally talk to us the entire time; that would massively help me as an insanely nervous flyer.' Many flyers felt reassured by the pilot's explanation. Getty Images 'Every noise terrifies me, I'm constantly looking at the cabin crew to see if they look relaxed.' 'My anxiety is maxed out until I hear those first two dings and then I immediately relax. I like knowing the flight attendants are moving around and your turned on the WiFi – it gives 'we chill' vibes.' 'Thanks, explanations like this ease my flight anxiety.' This helpful pilot's TikTok account has become a go-to place for many travelers to get their flying questions answered. In another video, an inquiring mind asked what a pilot's family life is like. 'I think it's one of the best jobs because of the time you get home and the family life you can have outside. The average airline pilot works half a month…' the well-known pilot said. 'And when they're home, they're home — there are no emails to answer, there are no Zoom calls, no late-night 'Can you get this project done?''


New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Urban explorer discovers ‘ghost town' full of empty, eerie hotels in Japan: ‘Like a time capsule'
An urban explorer has uncovered a hauntingly preserved resort town in Japan, where towering hotels sit crumbling along a riverside cliff. It's been untouched for over three decades, according to reports. Luke Bradburn, 28, stumbled upon the forgotten tourist destination of Kinugawa Onsen during a trip to Japan in early 2024. While his original goal was to document the Fukushima exclusion zone, Bradburn ventured beyond the area and found a 'ghost town.' 'I was scouting other nearby locations when I came across this entire district of abandoned hotels,' Bradburn told news agency SWNS. 'It was like walking into a ghost town.' Kinugawa Onsen was once a bustling resort town renowned for its natural hot springs. It began to decline in the early 1990s during Japan's economic downturn. As tourism dried up, many hotels shuttered. 10 The forgotten tourist hotspot of Kinugawa Onsen in Japan was visited by YouTuber Luke Bradburn in 2024. Luke Bradburn / SWNS 10 Luke Bradburn overlooks Kinugawa Onsen in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan. Luke Bradburn / SWNS But due to the country's strict property laws, the buildings were never demolished. Many remain in legal limbo after owners either died without heirs or disappeared altogether, according to SWNS. 'It's very different in Japan,' Bradburn said. 'The crime rate is so low that abandoned buildings don't get looted or destroyed as quickly.' He added, 'In some cases, they need the owner's permission to demolish, and if the owner died, they legally can't for 30 years.' 10 Ceiling tiles begin to fall down inside a hallway in one of the buildings. Luke Bradburn / SWNS 10 An indoor spa left abandoned in the city. Luke Bradburn / SWNS What remains today appears to be an eerie scene, with an entire street of massive, multi-story hotels slowly rotting away. Bradburn, who is from Greater Manchester and is now a full-time explorer, spent six hours navigating overgrown paths, broken staircases and precarious drop-offs around five or six of the roughly 20 structures, said SWNS. He would often move between buildings through interconnecting corridors. 'From the outside, it's all overgrown and decaying,' he said. 'But inside, some of the rooms were pristine – like no one had touched them in decades.' 10 An indoor pool with a view of the mountainside. Luke Bradburn / SWNS 10 Luke Bradburn sits on a chair inside a hotel in Kinugawa Onsen during his visit to the forgotten city in 2024. Luke Bradburn / SWNS Bradburn found himself in hotel lobbies filled with forgotten remnants of the past – traditional Japanese onsen baths, untouched rooms, even drinks still sitting on tables, the same source reported. 'One of the strangest things was walking into a lobby and seeing a massive taxidermy deer and falcon still standing there,' he recalled. 'It was bizarre. I'd seen pictures of it online before, and then suddenly we were face to face with it.' Some spaces felt like time capsules, he said. 'We found arcade machines still filled with toys, tables set with drinks and rooms that looked like they hadn't been touched in decades,' Bradburn said. 10 An overlook with great views of the abandoned city and its hotels in central Japan. Luke Bradburn / SWNS 10 Books. phones and chairs are left untouched where they were placed over 30 years before in the city. Luke Bradburn / SWNS 'It was surreal.' He said much of the area was extremely dangerous to navigate. 'There were floors missing, staircases hanging down, parts where you had to backtrack because everything had collapsed,' he said. 10 A dining area with place settings untouched on a counter. Luke Bradburn / SWNS 10 Bradburn said much of the area was extremely dangerous to navigate. Luke Bradburn / SWNS 'It was really unsafe in some areas. You had to be so careful.' Bradburn said the entire experience, overall, was emotional and disorienting. 'Each [building] felt like stepping into a time capsule,' he said. 'You get a sense of what life must've been like here at its peak – and then it just stopped,' he said. 'It's eerie, sad and fascinating all at once.' Kinugawa Onsen still draws some curious visitors, said SWNS, but the ghost town of abandoned hotels stands as a quiet and mysterious relic of Japan's tourism boom and bust. Much of it remains hidden in plain sight, as Bradburn's experience indicated – still waiting to be further discovered.


Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
Might Surprise You: 7 Hollywood Movies That Were Filmed In Asia
Hollywood productions have increasingly utilised diverse Asian locations as settings for major films. In these movies, you'll see Asia's authentic backdrops—ranging from historical temples to vibrant urban centers—with recognisable landmarks and landscapes appearing throughout. So, grab your popcorn, and see if you can spot the scenes shot in Asia! 1. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) - Hello, Cambodia! Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, exploring the mystical, vine-covered ruins of Angkor Wat? ICONIC. This movie basically put Cambodia's ancient wonders on everyone's travel bucket list. Those sprawling temples, especially Ta Prohm with its trees growing through the stones, were pure cinematic gold. 2. The Beach (2000) - Thailand's Secret Paradise (Before It Became So Famous!) Leonardo DiCaprio searching for paradise, only to find a hidden, idyllic beach in Thailand? We've all dreamt of it! While the movie's "secret" Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh definitely got a little too famous after this film, you can't deny the sheer beauty that Danny Boyle captured. Thailand's turquoise waters and dramatic limestone cliffs were basically another character in this cult classic. 3. Kong: Skull Island (2017) - Vietnam, You Lookin' Good! The fantastical, mist-shrouded landscapes of Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh's Trang An complex were the PERFECT, otherworldly home for King Kong. Seriously, those towering karsts and lush greenery looked like they were made for giant monster battles. Pure epicness! 4. Crazy Rich Asians (2018) - Singapore, You Slayed! This movie wasn't just a rom-com sensation, it was a love letter to Singapore! From the glittering Marina Bay Sands infinity pool to the breathtaking Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay and the vibrant hawker centers, Crazy Rich Asians showed the world just how glamorous and delicious this little red dot truly is. 5. The Dark Knight (2008) - Hong Kong's Urban Jungle Christopher Nolan bringing Batman to Hong Kong? YES, PLEASE! The iconic verticality and neon glow of Hong Kong provided the most incredible, gritty backdrop for some serious superhero action. Remember that epic scene where Batman glides from a skyscraper? That was Hong Kong, baby! 6. Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) - Krabi's Wild Stonescapes While the original Jurassic Park didn't use Vietnam or Indonesia, the latest installment in the Jurassic World saga, Rebirth, actually filmed in the stunning landscapes of Thailand. Imagine towering limestone karsts, lush rainforests, and crystal-clear waters providing the perfect, prehistoric backdrop for some serious dinosaur action! This movie truly embraces the natural beauty of Thailand, making its national parks and islands (like Khao Phanom Bencha National Park and Ko Kradan) look like the ultimate lost worlds. 7. Thunderbolts* (2025) - Defying Gravity Florence Pugh actually brought her superhero prowess to Kuala Lumpur for some epic scenes in Marvel's upcoming Thunderbolts*. Yep, the iconic Merdeka 118, the world's second-tallest building, was apparently a major backdrop for some thrilling stunts, with Pugh herself reportedly jumping off the skyscraper as Yelena Belova. Beyond the heart-pounding action, Florence was also totally won over by Malaysia's food scene, even expressing a desire to learn some local dishes for her "Cooking with Flo" series.