The D.C. Area Restaurants Where We Want To Be Regulars

No matter which YELLOW location you frequent, whether in Georgetown or Union Market, you’re guaranteed a great time. The team behind the Michelin-starred Albi knows how to serve up stellar kebabs, mezze, hummus, and bubbly, lightly charred flatbreads — or as they cheekily call them, (not) pizza — while keeping the mood approachable and casual. Whether you reach for the charcoal-grilled kebabs during the day or opt for (not) pizza and wine at night, it’s a restaurant that deserves a place on your rotation of regular spots soon.

According to owner Eric Bruner-Yang, his hope with Maketto “is that you learn/try something new and can always find a reason to come back to see us,” which to us sounds like the perfect encapsulation of being a regular. So sure, H Street’s Maketto is known for its tantalizing Taiwanese fried chicken, supple dim sum, and decadent rice and noodle dishes with Cambodian influences. But the heart of Maketto belongs to its 6,000 square-foot communal marketplace, which offers an assortment of retail, restaurant, bar, and cafe experiences including Cool Kids Vinyl, a record shop flecked with nostalgia.

Sichuan food is always a dependable choice for heat seekers and flavor fanatics. At Astoria, a sleek hideaway in Dupont Circle, you’ll find endless plates of fiery Sichuan dishes paired with creative cocktails that will have you planning your next visit, regardless of the wait that day, on the spot. Their chili wontons, dan dan noodles, eggplant, and mapo tofu (with vegan options available) are all expertly tossed with hot peppers and numbing Sichuan peppercorns. Each dish is an excellent rendition, courtesy of self-taught founder Devin Gong.

Daru may not live on the busiest street in D.C., but this buzzy restaurant with Indian-ish plates and eclectic cocktails has quite the loyal fan base. Jovial and knowledgeable bartenders will guide you through their inventive menu, which includes everything from daal makhani served over burrata to paneer pesto tikka. If you can, sit at the bar, where you’ll have a front seat to the beautiful and busy madness that is Daru’s cocktail-making. Walk-ins are available for the bar and outdoor seating, which makes it easy to stroll up to the restaurant to sample the whole menu in just a few visits.

Visit La Tejana enough times, and you might get a shout-out on social media. This award-winning Rio Grande Valley-inspired breakfast taco shop by day and cocktail bar by night draws crowds every week. But before they opened their brick-and-mortar, owners Ana-Maria Jaramillo and Gus May ran a tortilla pop-up with its own dedicated fan base. Now starting early in the morning, they dish out a medley of tacos with cheesy scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, and their signature cilantro crema salsa. To read about La Tejana’s regulars, head over to their Instagram, which features supporters from their pop-up days, neighborhood friends, and tender stories from around the block.

Nestled in the heart of Arlington, Pirouette is an all-day wine-lovers’ destination for Arlington and D.C. residents. Since opening in late 2022, owners Jackie and Philippe Loustaunau have welcomed everyone from aficionados to the wine-curious into their bright and airy space. Most regulars, the duo says, live around the block and come in once or twice a week, but they have their share of regulars from D.C. too. Regulars are tuned into all of Pirouette’s happenings: they stop by for lunch or dinner at the café, purchase bottles at their wine shop, and attend the free tastings on the weekends.

In the heart of Adams Morgan, Green Zone offers a taste of the Middle East with a laid-back vibe and an ever-rotating cocktail menu featuring ingredients like cardamom, sumac, and pomegranate. The bartenders are always eager to recommend something new, like their Jun Blossom or Ottoman Times, a Middle Eastern take on an Old-Fashioned. (Or if you’re a regular, as we are, you might just default to their legendary Mint Lemonade.) If you’re lucky, visit on Fridays or Saturdays to jam to guest DJs spinning Arabic, Middle Eastern, and international tunes (their website has a full schedule of DJs). As you return each time, the Green Zone becomes more than just a bar — it’s a gathering place with infectious Latin and reggae beats, impeccable vibes, and familiar faces that greet you each time.

A delicious bowl of ramen beckons you to Petworth — or perhaps, if you’re a local, just down the block. Since 2019, this ramen joint has been serving noodles in many different broths, to much acclaim. Founded by Eric Yoo, a financial consultant turned ramen chef who trained under Keizo Shimamoto of Ramen Shack, Menya serves up everything from classic shoyu and tonkotsu broths, along with inventive offerings like truffle shoyu and vegetarian tan tan bowls. Regulars stay up to date about Menya Hosaki’s special Tuesday lunch menus on Instagram — and we suggest doing the same, even if it’s purely to be in the know about exciting one-offs like Jiro-Kei inspired ramen and tsukemen.

Martha Dear’s Neapolitan-style pizzas and Hellenic specialties turn heads. It’s the culinary magic you’d expect from Tail Up Goat veterans Demetri Mechelis and Tara Smith teaming up, and regulars to their basement space would agree. The duo truly gets the regular vibe, however, as fans of their Instagram can attest; those photos of Demetri or Tara holding up their favorite pizzas and menu items send just the right message.

Purple Patch is one of the best, and most reliable spots, to pull up for an intimate date night or a large weekend group brunch in D.C. At this cozy Filipino-American spot, you’ll find soulful, hearty Filipino dishes with an American comfort food twist. From their beloved lumpia to sizzling sisig and ube pancakes at brunch, every meal feels like a heartfelt embrace from chef Patrice Cleary, who brings her Filipino roots to life through food. Regulars know that the restaurant hosts cultural events, like Kamayan feasts (a traditional Filipino communal meal with 15 different dishes) and special wine pairings. Plus, once you’ve had their ube desserts and calamansi cocktails, you might just keep increasing your group size the next time.

Ellē has become one of the premier spots in Mount Pleasant to grab a coffee, bagels, and brunch, and at night, take a spin through a tasting menu with seasonal vegetables, rustic mains, and tantalizing desserts. Immediately when you enter, a bulletin board cluttered with neighborly happenings and a wall of Ellē’s legendary “cat butt” totes greet you. Regulars will come to know the lore of Grumpy Cat, the beloved and unofficial mascot of the restaurant, who hangs out in the large vintage painting.

The Red Hen’s rotating menu provides a star-studded treatment — with some Italian spirit — of seasonal produce. Nowadays, squid ink linguini and grilled beef short rib grace its menu, but those options could very well change by the time you read this. At this spot in the historic Bloomingdale neighborhood, you’ll feel comfortable bringing your family, friends, and even a celebrity (hello Joe Biden) into its moody yet snug embrace. Pro tip: Reservations are normally required, although you can keep up with their Instagram account @redhenbarseats to check the best times to sneak into their spacious bar area.

Even as a newcomer at Charga, you’ll feel at home. Don’t be surprised if owner Asad Chaudry calls you “brother” when you waltz in, or serves you samples of lime-cilantro rice and Peruvian arroz chaufa in small cups. Open seven days a week, this Arlington storefront specializes in street food and plates of chicken from around the world. Special to their menu is their Balochi-style sajji chicken and popular flash-fried charga chicken with masala onions and chutney. Whether it’s your first or tenth time, you will never get bored. And if you’ve somehow exhausted every chicken dish, their burgers, hoagies, and kabob platters are commendable bites as well.

Fans of Italian food and rotating menus are in for a special treat at Centrolina. The smattering of antipasti, pasta, dishes “a lenga” (from the terracotta-clad wood oven), and more have the power to astound and convert anyone into a regular diner. Such is the genius of chef Amy Brandwein — food that feels simultaneously familiar and new. Even if you’re not dropping by for a meal, pay a visit to Centrolina’s Mercato Kitchen for gift baskets, or indulge in a wood-fired treat from their sister outpost Piccolina, an all-day café across the street.

Who knew dining through the seasons could be this fun? At this Shaw gem, nearly everything on their menu is sourced from farms within 150 miles of the city. Truly, it’s as family-owned and operated as it gets with executive chef Colin McClimans and general manager Danilo Simic running the show. Their constantly rotating menu is a must-get, a $59 family-style tasting that will expose you to brilliant technique, local produce, and a rotating lineup of dishes that can include little neck clam toast and carrot cake with a goat cheese mousse.

Speaking of Tail Up Goat, it’s no surprise that it ranks high on the places of where we’d want to be a regular. With stellar service and indoor and patio dining, you — like many District residents — will find yourself returning to this Adams Morgan gem time and again. Their signature four-course dinner menu, which accommodates most allergies, includes a bit of everything: bite-sized snacks, hearty main courses like Nashville hot sweetbreads and braised short ribs, and sumptuous desserts like a layered chocolate cake. Not in the mood for a full-service dinner? No problem! Tail Up Goat makes it easy to stop by for a few bites via an a la carte menu. In case the Goat gets fully booked (we know), it’s easy to hop on over to their sister restaurant Reveler’s Hour for pasta and wine.

Every diner gets a warm welcome at this Latin seafood restaurant run by sibling chef duo Alfredo and Jessica Solis. With unparalleled service and generous portions, this neighborhood gem stands out in a sea of restaurants near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It’s difficult to get bored of their menu, which contains tasty ceviche, flavorful sandwiches, and a standout whole-fried flounder. You’ll come to be very fond of the hand-painted octopus mural, and the dining room’s seaside-cool colors in no time.

You’ll feel the seasonal magic while dining under a dangling canopy of frosted branches and flowers at Residents, whose regulars-please approach is telegraphed in its name. Located in the heart of Dupont Circle, it serves carefully crafted cocktails and a solid brunch and dinner menu that includes plates like lemon pesto burrata, lamb ragu tagliatelle and a dry aged beef burger. While you’re there, get to know the team; that name pays homage to their founders, who immigrated from Serbia and settled in the nation’s bustling capital.