D.C. Casual Cravings 

Taqueria Sabor Mixteco (Silver Spring): B

Washingtonian 2026 #90

Washingtonian somehow managed to include another restaurant that requires packing a passport to leave the Beltway. Silver Spring is many wonderful things. Washington is not one of them. The best part? Places like this usually hide the good stuff.

Taqueria Sabor Mixteco isn't fancy, and thank goodness for that. The menu goes well beyond tacos and enchiladas into regional Mexican dishes that actually taste like they belong in Mexico instead of a Taco Bell. The staff completely won me over. We basically let them order for us, and they talked about the food with so much enthusiasm that I wanted everything before it even hit the table. The star was the tlayuda, a giant Oaxacan specialty you're supposed to eat with your hands. Huge portions, great flavors, and I'm happily eating the leftovers tonight. The mole was excellent, the red and green sauces both delivered, the margarita came in what looked suspiciously like a beer glass, and the sangria lemonade deserved its own fan club. The black beans and rice were both very good, although let's be honest, that's also the minimum job requirement for a Mexican restaurant.

The only real disappointment was the meat quality. The tasajo with cactus had terrific flavor and great accompaniments, but the beef itself was tougher than it should have been. Several dishes leaned a little heavy on the sauces for my taste, though the sauces themselves were well executed.

I wanted this place to be either spectacular or completely ridiculous. Instead, I fell in love with the people and the spirit of the restaurant a little more than the food itself.

Verdict: Come for the warmth, the regional specialties, and the margaritas. Stay because the staff makes you feel like they genuinely want you there. Solid B, with a very happy face.

2Fifty BBQ (Riverdale & DC): A+

Washingtonian 2026 #11

2Fifty BBQ may be the best barbecue operation in the Washington area. Every single thing we ordered impressed. The meats were outstanding, the sauces were excellent, the sides pulled their weight, and the cornbread was memorable enough that people were still talking about it afterward. Too many barbecue restaurants have one signature item and a supporting cast of mediocrity. Not here. Everything works. This is one of the few places where ordering broadly is rewarded because there simply aren't many weak spots on the menu.

I particularly love this place for catering and group events. It travels well, feeds a crowd, and makes you look smarter than you actually are when people ask who picked the food. It isn't cheap, but it is worth every penny. Order all the wagyu you possibly can and don't even talk to me about price. Who cares at this point.

Verdict: One of the best barbecue restaurants in the region. Worth buying a bigger size pant for.

2 Amys (Cathedral Heights): B

Washingtonian 2026 #20

2 Amys is good pizza. Better than chain pizza, better than most neighborhood pizza, and consistently reliable. The challenge is that pizza, by its very nature, has a ceiling for me. I understand why people love this place. I understand why it has loyal followers. I also understand that I am unlikely to drive across Washington for dough, sauce, and cheese when there are so many other cuisines competing for my attention.

Years ago, the gluten-free options made it stand out more than it does today. Now it feels like a very good neighborhood pizza restaurant that has perhaps benefited from a bit of historical momentum.

Verdict: If you live nearby, order it often. If you're driving an hour for pizza, we probably evaluate restaurants differently.

Chay (Falls Church, VA): B+

Washingtonian 2026 #41

Chay performs an impressive trick. As a dedicated carnivore, I arrived skeptical and left impressed. The kitchen does a remarkable job recreating textures and flavors that mimic meat without becoming gimmicky or feeling like a science experiment. Several dishes were convincing enough that I found myself appreciating the craftsmanship even while fully acknowledging that I still prefer actual meat.

Vegetarians should absolutely know this place exists. Omnivores should too. There is real talent here, and the menu succeeds because it focuses on being delicious rather than trying to lecture anyone about their life choices.

Verdict: A genuinely impressive vegetarian neighborhood gem. I would happily order it again, especially with a room full of vegetarians. Which honestly rarely happens in my world. Barbecue still wins.

Yellow (Georgetown): A-

Washingtonian 2026 #34

The lines at Yellow remain mildly ridiculous, which is normally enough to send me somewhere else. Unfortunately, the hummus, pastries, pitas, and pricing all conspire against my better judgment. The overstuffed pitas are excellent. The hummus is exceptional. The pastries are worth fighting family members over. Everything feels fresh, thoughtful, and surprisingly affordable given the quality. This is one of the rare places where the hype and the product actually align.

The best strategy is simple: order more than you think you need and take it home. Someone will inevitably claim the leftovers before you get another chance. PS – I liked you more in 2025, but will still come back.

Verdict: Yes, the lines are annoying. Yes, it is worth standing in them.

Sura (Dupont Circle): B

Washingtonian 2026 #93

Sura Thai fills an important niche by delivering to areas many other Thai restaurants ignore. Beyond that, I struggled to find a compelling reason to become a regular. The heat levels can be inconsistent, the menu leans heavily toward nut-forward dishes, and the rice-to-protein ratio occasionally feels like someone from accounting was invited into the kitchen budget meetings.

Nothing was bad. Nothing offended me. Nothing inspired me either. Washington has become surprisingly competitive when it comes to Thai food, and that competition hurts Sura more than any specific flaw.

Verdict: Perfectly acceptable Thai food. Washington simply has too many stronger options.

Rice Paper (Baileys Crossroads, VA): D

Washingtonian 2026 – NOPE!

Rice Paper committed one of the great sins of dining: making me question whether my food had been properly rinsed. Several dishes carried an unmistakably soapy quality that overwhelmed everything else on the table. Whether it was cleaning residue, an ingredient issue, or something else entirely became irrelevant. Once trust disappears, dinner becomes an investigation, and that is not the kind of culinary adventure I am seeking.

Even setting the soap problem aside, nothing else compelled a return visit. The menu felt geared toward people who genuinely love traditional Vietnamese cuisine, which is perfectly fine. I simply found myself wishing I were eating somewhere else.

Verdict: Not enough MSG exists to get me back on this horse.

Nue (Downtown): B

Washingtonian 2026 #79

Nue is one of those restaurants that keeps appearing on lists, which naturally raises expectations. The room is attractive, the service is solid, and the ambition is obvious. Walking in, you get the sense that you're about to discover something special. Then dinner arrives. Many of the fusion concepts felt more experimental than successful. I found myself appreciating the ideas while wishing the dishes landed with more confidence. There is talent here. There is creativity here. There is absolutely potential here. The execution just never quite catches up to the vision.

I didn't dislike anything. I also didn't leave craving anything. For a restaurant that keeps showing up on "best of" lists, that's a problem.

Verdict: The owners must know somebody. Plenty of potential, but I left more impressed by the concept than the food. Maybe I will try again in 2027.

Southeast Impression: B+

Washingtonian 2026 #88

This is exactly the kind of restaurant that belongs in Casual Cravings. Nobody is pretending it's fine dining. Nobody is presenting tweezers. Nobody is explaining the emotional journey of a noodle. The food is simply very good.

The noodles are excellent, the proteins are consistently strong, and the wide noodles deserve special recognition. This is the kind of place that reminds you delicious food doesn't require a tasting menu, a reservation system, or a chef describing his childhood trauma before serving dinner. A lot of restaurants try to be memorable. Southeast Impression just tries to be good.

Verdict: A reminder that some of the best meals arrive in a plastic takeout container.

NiHao (Dupont Circle): B+

Washingtonian 2025 #64

NiHao succeeds because it knows exactly what it is. The restaurant feels cleaner than most Chinese restaurants, the menu is approachable without being watered down, and the food tastes authentically Chinese. Everything we ordered was good. Nothing felt gimmicky. Nothing felt designed for Instagram. Dinner simply arrived exactly as it should, which is a surprisingly rare accomplishment.

If you enjoy Chinese food, you'll enjoy NiHao. If you're looking for culinary enlightenment, keep moving. That's not the assignment here.

Verdict: A neighborhood gem and an easy recommendation when the craving for good Chinese food hits.

Martha Dear (Mount Pleasant): B

Washingtonian 2026 #67

Martha Dear feels like a restaurant still deciding what it wants to be when it grows up. The pizza is good. The dough is good. The execution is generally solid. Yet I kept wanting the restaurant to fully commit to an identity instead of feeling like several good ideas sharing the same address.

Nothing is bad. Nothing is disappointing. Nothing is particularly memorable either. It's the restaurant equivalent of a pleasant conversation with someone whose name you immediately forget. People who live nearby should absolutely enjoy having it in the neighborhood. The rest of Washington does not need to rearrange schedules to get there.

Verdict: Good enough pizza, good intentions, and a restaurant still searching for its defining personality.

Fava Pot (Falls Church): A-

Washingtonian 2026 #87

Fava Pot is one of those restaurants that quietly restores your faith in casual dining. The place is spotless, welcoming, family-friendly, and remarkably consistent. Nobody is trying to reinvent Egyptian food. Nobody is chasing trends. Nobody is serving deconstructed hummus on a slate tile while explaining their vision. They're simply making very good food.

The portions are generous, the flavors are comforting, and everything feels like it was prepared by people who genuinely care whether you enjoy your meal. There is something refreshing about a restaurant that understands exactly what it is and executes it well every single time.

I particularly appreciate how approachable it is. You can bring adventurous eaters, picky eaters, kids, grandparents, or coworkers and everyone finds something to enjoy. That is a harder trick than most chefs realize.

Verdict: Clean, comforting, dependable, and consistently delicious. The kind of neighborhood restaurant every community deserves.

La Tingeria (Columbia Heights): B

Washingtonian 2025 #68

La Tingeria feels like a really good food truck that accidentally acquired walls. The tacos are solid, the salsa is good, and the entire operation understands its assignment. This is not destination dining. This is not where you bring out-of-town guests to show off Washington's culinary prowess. This is where you go when you want tacos. The biggest mistake would be overthinking it. Tacos have a very short shelf life between amazing and disappointing. They should be eaten quickly, preferably while standing, slightly overdressed for the weather, and already thinking about the next one.

La Tingeria understands that. The food is straightforward, satisfying, and best enjoyed immediately. Drive it across town and you'll lose some of the magic.

Verdict: Good tacos, good salsa, no nonsense. Eat immediately and be happy.

Mama Chang (Fairfax): B+

Washingtonian 2026 #81

Mama Chang is exactly what a suburban Chinese restaurant should aspire to be. The duck is excellent, the menu is broad, and there are very few misses. Everything feels a little more thoughtful and a little more polished than the average suburban Chinese restaurant. The seafood is particularly strong, although occasionally it reminds you a bit too enthusiastically that it came from the ocean.

What I appreciate most is the consistency. Large menus often become a liability because restaurants try to do too much. Mama Chang manages to keep quality surprisingly high across a wide range of dishes. Would I drive across the region for it? No. If I lived nearby, however, this would absolutely become part of the regular rotation.

Verdict: A very good suburban Chinese restaurant that knows exactly what it is. Reliable, enjoyable, and worth knowing about if you're in the neighborhood.

Thip Khao & Padaek (Columbia Heights): A-

Washingtonian 2026 #42

This is one of the strongest restaurants in the entire Casual Cravings category and maybe even other categories. I am in love and now want to go to Laos. The food is bold, memorable, and completely unconcerned with whether you've had Laotian food before. The noodles, rice dishes, jerky, sausage, and grilled items all deliver. More importantly, the restaurant rewards curiosity.

The farther you move away from your comfort zone, the better the experience tends to become. What I appreciate most is the confidence. There is no attempt to water things down or apologize for flavors that might be unfamiliar. The restaurant trusts its cuisine and trusts its guests. Fortunately, both are worthy of that confidence.

Verdict: One of the most interesting and flavorful casual meals in Washington. Order broadly and thank me later.

Northwest Chinese Food (Maryland): A-

Washingtonian 2026 #50

This may be the worst restaurant name attached to some of the best food on the entire list. "Northwest Chinese Food" sounds less like a restaurant and more like a placeholder someone forgot to update before opening day. Fortunately, the food is significantly more creative than the branding. The Shanxi-style noodles are outstanding. The chili-forward dishes are addictive. The menu feels refreshingly different from the standard Chinese-American rotation that dominates much of the region. Every visit feels like discovering something new rather than ordering the same familiar combination platter. Service is casual, the setting is unremarkable, and none of that matters once the food arrives.

Verdict: A terrible name hiding excellent food. Delicious would have been a much better choice.

A&J Restaurant (Annandale & Rockville): B

Washingtonian 2026 #52

A&J rewards curiosity. If you're looking for General Tso's chicken and a predictable Chinese-American menu, you've wandered into the wrong restaurant. A&J specializes in traditional Chinese dishes and does so without apology. The menu is broad, the flavors are authentic, and the restaurant feels refreshingly unconcerned with trends, influencers, or what anyone on TikTok thinks about dumplings this week.

The best approach is to order things you don't recognize. The people who enjoy A&J the most are usually the people willing to get a little uncomfortable and venture beyond their usual order. There is good food here, but it requires a bit of effort from the diner. My biggest complaint is the cash-only policy. I understand tradition. I appreciate authenticity. I also live in the 21st century.

Verdict: A local gem for adventurous diners. Bring cash, bring curiosity, and leave your orange chicken expectations at home.

Baan Siam (Downtown): B+

Washingtonian 2026 #76

Baan Siam quietly wins people over. The service was exceptional from start to finish. The lychee martini managed the difficult task of tasting like lychee without becoming liquid candy. The mango salad was excellent, the pumpkin dish was memorable, and every dish we ordered landed somewhere between good and very good. Nobody left disappointed. Nobody was checking their watches. That's a win.

What holds Baan Siam back is not the food. It's geography. More specifically, it sits next door to Ottoman Taverna, which I consider one of the best restaurants in Washington. That's like opening a very good basketball court next to Michael Jordan's house. Judged on its own merits, Baan Siam is a genuine neighborhood gem. Reasonably priced, welcoming, and consistently enjoyable. Judged against its immediate competition, it becomes harder to crave.

Verdict: A very good Thai restaurant that would be a star in many neighborhoods. Unfortunately, it lives next door to greatness.

Truong Tien (Eden Center): B-

Washingtonian 2026 #94

Truong Tien serves traditional Vietnamese food for people who genuinely love traditional Vietnamese food. The flavors were authentic, the execution was competent, and everything arrived exactly as intended. There was nothing objectively wrong with the meal. In fact, fans of traditional Vietnamese cuisine may read this review and wonder what my problem is.

My problem is memorability. Nothing stood out. Nothing surprised me. Nothing made me want to order it again tomorrow. In Eden Center, where excellent Vietnamese options surround you in every direction, simply being fine becomes a problem. Competition matters. This wasn't a bad meal. It was a transactional one.

Verdict: Perfectly acceptable Vietnamese food. In a sea of choices, I simply found no reason to swim back.

Beteseb (Silver Spring): B

Washingtonian 2026 #46

Beteseb is perfectly acceptable Ethiopian food and a reasonable introduction for anyone curious about the cuisine. The sampler works well, the ribeye upgrade is absolutely worth the additional cost, and the presentation is fun, especially for first-timers. The flavors are satisfying, the portions are generous, and everyone at the table will leave understanding why Ethiopian food has such devoted followers.

What I remember most, however, is the bathroom. If people are eating with their hands, paper towels should not be considered an optional luxury. Air dryers and Ethiopian food simply do not belong in the same sentence. This may sound like a strange hill to die on. I accept that. It is still my hill. The food was fine. The bathroom stayed with me longer. How this moved up on the list tells me that people started smoking a lot more pot this year or got comped a meal.

Verdict: A solid introduction to Ethiopian food. Upgrade the ribeye and install paper towels.

Marib (Yemeni Carryout): B+

Washingtonian 2025 #99

Marib may be one of the most pleasant surprises on the entire Washingtonian list. The slow-roasted meats are excellent, the bread arrives fresh and flavorful, and the pricing is remarkably fair for the quality. I originally thought the lamb would be the clear standout. Then I kept ordering more of the menu and discovered that nearly everything was good. By the end of the meal, finding weaknesses felt harder than finding strengths.

What I appreciate most is that Marib understands comfort food. The flavors are rich without being heavy, the portions are generous, and everything feels satisfying without leaving you questioning your life choices afterward. That's a harder balance than it sounds. This is also the kind of place that makes you rethink your takeout habits. If you're reaching for pizza, Chinese, or Thai for the third time this month, Marib deserves a spot in the rotation.

Verdict: One of the best carryout surprises in the region. Order broadly, order extra bread, and thank me later.

Your Only Friend (DC): A for Fun | B for Food

Washingtonian 2026 #89

Your Only Friend understands something many restaurants forget: fun matters. The food is not trying to win Michelin stars. The chef is not explaining the emotional journey of a potato. Nobody is sourcing salt from a remote mountain village. Instead, the restaurant is busy transporting you back to the 1990s while serving Cool Ranch onion rings and other gloriously unnecessary creations.

The menu is nostalgic, self-aware, and completely committed to the bit. The room has energy. The crowd is having fun. The entire place feels like it was designed by someone who remembered that restaurants are supposed to make people happy. Is the food the best thing you'll eat all year? No. Will you leave smiling? Probably. And honestly, that's worth something.

Verdict: Not every restaurant needs to be important. Sometimes it just needs to be fun. This place understands that better than most.

Chicatana (Columbia Heights): D

Washingtonian 2026 – NOPE!

Yuckville. Shock value is not a cuisine. Chicatana leans heavily into ants, grasshoppers, and novelty ingredients that generate conversation but rarely generate cravings. I appreciate creativity. I appreciate trying new things. I do not appreciate eating bugs simply because someone decided bugs would make for an interesting press release.

The margarita was fine. The cheese dip was fine. Admittedly, those are two things that are difficult to completely ruin. The rest of the meal felt gimmicky rather than delicious, and by the end of dinner I was struggling to separate what was supposed to be interesting from what was actually enjoyable. Add some questionable cleanliness concerns, and there simply wasn't enough here to justify the hype.

Verdict: If your primary goal is telling people you ate bugs, mission accomplished. Personally, I can do that in my backyard.

Izakaya Seki (U Street Corridor): F

Washingtonian 2026 #40

Cleanliness is non-negotiable. I watched enough bare-handed food handling to immediately put me on edge. Raw and cooked foods appeared to be handled carelessly, fish sauce overwhelmed nearly everything, and the sushi itself felt mishandled. The bathroom did absolutely nothing to restore my confidence. I can forgive a disappointing dish. I can forgive a menu choice I don't agree with. I have a much harder time forgiving a restaurant that makes me question food safety. And, I am still burping fish sauce. Sexy.

I rarely hand out failing grades. This earned one.

Verdict: The bathroom alone should make you run. The food may give you the runs.

Cucina Morini (Mount Vernon Triangle): B-

Washingtonian 2026 #36

The crudo was good. Unfortunately, that's where most of my enthusiasm ended. The pasta was perfectly competent but forgettable, the menu lacked distinction, and the overall experience felt overshadowed by numerous better Italian restaurants already operating in Washington. Nothing was actively bad. Nothing offended me. Nothing made me want to come back. Italian is a difficult category because the competition is fierce. If you're going to earn a spot on a "best of" list, you need to give diners a reason to choose you over the dozens of other Italian restaurants in town. I never found that reason here. If I am getting carb fat, I want to earn it.

Verdict: I'm not saying it's bad. I'm saying I can name several better Italian restaurants before the check arrives.

El Viejo Central American Kitchen (Silver Spring, MD): A-

Washingtonian 2026 #99

I hauled my ass, and everyone else's, all the way to Silver Spring for what is essentially a glorified food truck. A delicious glorified food truck. There is nothing to this place. White walls, cramped seating, zero ambiance, and no pretense. It's basically a food truck with a bathroom.

Unlike my newest annoyance, Koryouri Urara, El Viejo actually has a story to tell through its food. The carne asada was excellent, the pupusas are absolutely worth ordering, and the chuchito de pollo is a must. Every dish had great flavor without trying too hard, and even my non-spicy, picky dining companions were impressed.

This is exactly what it should be: a fantastic neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. It belongs on a Silver Spring casual list, not Washingtonian's Top 100. That said, I judge restaurants against what they're trying to be, and El Viejo succeeds. If you're craving authentic Central American food, it's an easy recommendation. This score is based on casual cravings, not fine dining. Do not conflate the two.

Fish Shop (The Wharf): A Ambiance | B Food

Washingtonian 2026 #77

Fish Shop is beautiful. Irritatingly beautiful, actually, because the setting is doing some serious heavy lifting here. Inside, outside, plates, location, the whole damn thing is lovely. There isn't a bad seat. Ambiance gets an easy A. Then brunch arrived.

My partner is a donut slut. The man will happily eat a 7-Eleven donut and call it a perfectly reasonable life choice. Fish Shop's donut got a shrug. That's damning. The crab crumpet was fine, but a soggy base is a structural failure when crunch was clearly the assignment. The much-heralded catfish sandwich needed more seasoning, more fish, and less bread. The pickles were great. The bacon was legitimately excellent and immediately triggered a no-sharing policy.

Nothing was bad. That's almost the problem. At The Wharf, where you can trip over a dozen other perfectly good restaurants before reaching the parking garage, pretty and competent aren't enough to make the food memorable. Hell's Kitchen is an overpriced commercial spectacle, and I'd still pick it when I want flavor to punch me in the face.

And yet, I want to go back. The place is simply too lovely not to give dinner a shot. Maybe brunch isn't its moment. I'll return, eat the dinner menu, and see whether the kitchen can catch up with the room.

Verdict: A ambiance. B food. Dinner gets one chance to change my mind.

*The numbers indicate the restaurant's position on The Washingtonian Magazine's Top 100 Restaurants list. This review examines whether that ranking aligns with reality.