The Resy Guide to Vegetarian Comfort Food in D.C.

The dish: Embered brussels with hummus

Brussels sprouts are definitely a winter favorite. At Albi, they are especially delicious roasted and paired with herbed tahini sauce and green shatta, a Middle eastern condiment made from green chile peppers. Served over hummus with pita, this seasonal gem is one not to miss.

The dish: Impossible mapo

This super piquant and “meaty” dish, brimming with flavor and heat from chiles, garlic, and Sichuan peppercorn, is best eaten with a bowl of warm white rice to balance out the heat. It’s just the right amount of spice needed for a particularly blustery day.

The dish: Punjabi tikki chaat

Starchy, filling potatoes are best eaten in winter. At Café of India, these small spiced potato patties pack quite the flavor punch. The patties are pan-fried and topped with sweet and spicy chutneys, as well as a healthy drizzle of a silky black salt-infused yogurt sauce.

The dish: Wok-blistered green beans

Here green beans are cooked over high heat in a wok with toasted sesame oil and then tossed in an aromatic ssamjang sauce made of a blend of garlic, honey, Korean soybean paste, and Korean chili paste. They have never been so flavorful.

The dish: Squash and labneh

At Compass Rose, guests are treated to a variety of small plates from around the world. Their winter menu currently features a several dishes highlighting winter ingredients, including a squash and labneh dish inspired by the delicious cuisine of Lebanon. Crescents of sweet winter squash come cooked in a heady brown butter sauce, served on a bed of yogurt, and topped with za’atar, toasted pumpkin seeds, and fried rosemary.

The dish: Vegan chili

There is something about chili that makes you associate it with cold weather. At Commonwealth Cantina, a fun Tex-Mex venue in Petworth, the chili is fragrant and hearty, chock full of beans and spices, guaranteed to warm your soul on a chilly day. Pro tip: Take advantage of the various toppings for your bowlful, such as avocado, cheese, or crispy tortilla chips.

The dish: White truffle mac ‘n’ cheese

Few dishes scream “winter comfort food” like mac ‘n’ cheese. The one at Dupont Circle is particularly soul-warming, with small shells baked with sharp and mild cheddar and drizzled with fragrant white truffle oil. It is decadence on decadence,

The dish: Cream of Virginia chestnut and porcini soup

Not only does this soup use some of winter’s best produce, including local chestnuts and porcini mushrooms, but it is so velvety and rich you’ll forget all about the blustery weather outside. Pro tip: If you’re feeling flush, look for the $85 multi-course “market menus,” with optional wine pairing add-on.

Call 202-331-8118 for reservations.

The dish: Crepe Nana

Pears are never as sweet as they are in the winter, and Le Chat Noir you can sample them stuffed inside a freshly made crepe with tangy Roquefort cheese, which offers the perfect contrast to the sweet and succulent pear. A sprinkling of toasted almonds add a bit of crunch to round out the dish.

The dish: Spicy cauliflower

Not only is cauliflower endlessly popular in winter, but Maketto’s spicy iteration is especially warming. Satisfying and zesty, with sesame and puffed rice, winter is the perfect time to indulge in this spicy dish.

The dish: Duxelles toast

This small spot is known for its pizza, but it also features dynamite Mediterranean-themed snacks and starters. One of the best is their duxelles toast, where housemade sourdough focaccia is smothered in duxelles, a classic preparation of mushrooms cooked down with shallots, herbs, and garlic. Melted Tomme-De-Harvest, a creamy Swiss cheese, and a drizzle of honey complete this cozy, comforting winter dish.

The dish: Cacio e pepe

Winter is the best time for a comforting bowl of pasta, and RPM may have the fanciest and most satisfying one around. The restaurant’s cacio e pepe is a heady tangle of spaghetti, melted pecorino Romano cheese, and toasted black pepper. It is as soothing and indulgent as pasta dishes come.

Call 202-204-4480 for reservations.

The dish: Queso fundido

A pot of melted chihuahua cheese, topped with sauteed mushrooms, is just what the doctor ordered this winter from this perennial Mexican fave (in both Southeast and Woodley Park). Mop up every last bite of the gooey cheese with one of the venue’s housemade corn tortillas. Pro tip: Enjoy your fundido with Taco City’s spicy margarita to get even warmer.

The dish: Tom kha soup

Enticing aromas of lemongrass, ginger, and cilantro make this creamy, rich coconut milk-infused soup seem even more delicious at this Florida Ave. Thai stalwart. With a hint of heat from Thai chiles and brightness from lime juice, it’s everything you need to help you survive the freezing temperatures.

The dish: Vegan ramen

As soon as the temperatures drop, most of us immediately start craving a bowl of steaming hot ramen. Toki Underground serves some of the most popular ramen in town, and the veggie one has mushrooms, noodles, tofu, kale, and daikon, which arrive swimming in a spicy and intoxicating broth. Don’t stop until you finish the entire bowl.