My Favorite DC Restaurants

Pizzeria Paradiso, an all-time DC favorite of mine.

A few days ago, someone asked me to name my favorite restaurant in the District. I have to admit I was at a loss. I could not. There's plenty to like, for all manner of different reasons, but I couldn't say definitively which was my favorite. All I could come up with was a list of places I liked for their food quality, value for the money, consistency, service or just plain comfort. And obviously, vegan friendliness.

So, I haven't been to every establishment in the District. And I'm surely forgetting a few I've eaten at over the last 10+ years. But, as far as I can tell, here are my favorite restaurants in the District based on the very basic criteria of:

1) they serve vegan food

2) great food quality + consistency 

3) good service + staff likability

4) the prices match the product

5) people watching + attracts a good crowd

Favorites

Pizzeria Paradiso

Harmony Cafe

Busboys and Poets

Sticky Rice

Mandu

Everlasting Life / Woodlands

Adam Express

Dukem Ethiopian

Sticky Fingers Bakery
Jyoti

Honorable Mention

Pho 14
Meridian Pint

Food for Thought
Rice / DC Noodles

Thai Tanic

Habesha Market and Carry-Out

Science Club
Absolute Thai
Daikaya Ramen
Sweetgreen

Only Been Once, Want to Go Again

Elizabeth's Gone Raw

Sushi Taro

Thai X-ing
Toki Underground
Ethiopic

RIP

Cafe Green

Java Green

Asylum
Fasika