Now on Resy: Purple Patch, Seray, and More Local Favorites

Though the shatteringly crisp lumpia are enough of a reason to visit all on their own, you’ll want to extend your stay to work your way through chef Patrice Cleary’s menu full of family recipes. Choose your own adventure with à la carte offerings from pancit to adobo, or bring a crew to go all-in on the kamayan family-style feast.

If you’ve eaten Thai food in the D.C. area, you probably know some of the Pattana Group’s many establishments. At this one, in South Riding Market Square, co-founder Porntipa Pattanamekar will lure you in with a menu of southern Thai dishes like Phuket chile crab and Chumphon pad Thai.

The menu at this festive restaurant in the One Loudoun business center takes inspiration from every region of Thailand, with a particular focus on Southern Thai specialties that are absolute standouts. Pro tip: Start your Thai feast with a Siam Platter, a sampling of the restaurant’s most popular appetizers.

This is the second iteration of the legendary Arlington sports bar and restaurant that closed in 2019, and it’s just as good as the first. Come with a crowd to watch the games on high-def screens, and enjoy impeccable cocktails and finger foods, plus a burger made with Japanese Wagyu.

One of four Dok Khao locations in Virginia and Maryland, this airy, greenery-filled restaurant at Potomac Town Center is paradise for those who love Thai food. You’ll find all the classics here, but also specialties like spicy tilapia in mango sauce and lychee duck curry, plus Dok Khao’s version of pad Thai with roasted pork and a sweet-and-spicy soy sauce.

You can tell chef Rachael Jennings (a Rose’s Luxury veteran) has fun in the kitchen at this Dupont Circle charmer. Pizzas like the Kelly Ruben topped with pastrami, Swiss, and sauerkraut, for instance, are whimsical and delicious. But don’t overlook the sides and sandwiches, which are so good, you might almost skip the pies. Almost. But don’t. Seriously.

You’ll want to keep coming back to this Prince George County outpost of the Pattana Group’s empire of sterling Thai restaurants. The menu is expansive, with plenty of classics, but house signatures like basil duck and crispy fried whole branzino with tamarind chile sauce are must-trys.

Named for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s secretary (and mistress), this intimate lounge is hidden just upstairs from the Union Market District outpost of Manhattan’s acclaimed Minetta Tavern. The space channels 18th century French living rooms, laden with plush velvet couches and glowing light fixtures — come for the perfect cocktails, and complete the experience with snacks like potato chips with crème fraîche and caviar.

Like a fine wine, Grand Cru brings French-accented flavors and finessed hospitality to Ballston, with a dining room and outdoor spaces that are homey and generous. Count on classics like escargots, French onion soup, and steak frites, and return time and time again for seasonal pastas and seafood. Pro tip: Select bottles of wine are half off on Wednesdays.

At his glowing Dupont Circle restaurant and specialty market, Mikko Kosonen (once the chef for the Finnish ambassador) celebrates traditional Scandinavian specialties (like an iconic salmon, cod, and potato soup) with international accents added, in a room that feels like home. If you’re into bold flavors, try his specialty dessert: salty licorice ice cream.

This elegant restaurant in Arlington’s Pentagon City specializes in the Yunnan region’s silky and light mixian (rice noodles), and has a dedicated fan base that you’ll want to join. Beyond the excellent noodles, the shareable small plates (jiaozi, assorted bao, and more) plus original brunch dishes (like a tea-smoked salmon Benedict) always hit.

Chef, restaurateur, and “pizza man” Joe Farruggio, known for his highly rated Il Canale in Georgetown, brings real-deal Neapolitan-style pies, housemade pasta, and other Italian delights to Arlington with this casual, warm-hearted place. It’s a longtime neighborhood favorite for reasons you’ll understand as soon as you take your first bite.