The Best Comfort Food in Washington

Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips

★★★★☆ 3.9 (496) • $$

"Honestly, I was a little nervous about trying out Gordon Ramsay's Fish & Chips with all its mixed reviews, but we had a delicious experience!Located at The Wharf, the menu offers chips, combos, shakes, and even beer & wine. We ordered:+the Gordon's Combo - this came with 1 piece of Crispy Cod, 1 piece of Crispy Chicken, and 3 pieces of Crispy Shrimp, served with a side of sea salt chips and a choice of 2 sauces+the Fish & Shrimp Combo - this came with 2 pieces of Crispy Cod and 3 pieces of Crispy Shrimp, with a side of sea salt chips and a choice of 2 sauces+and, a Crafted LemonadeThe batter was amazing - the cod was so delicate, flakey, and super yummy, and great with the sauces; shrimp was just okay, and I wasn't a fan of the chicken.Sauce choices include: Gordon's Tartar, Curry & Mango, Sriracha Aioli, Southwest Ranch, Dijon Mayonnaise, and Cocktail. In terms of the sauces, I did like the Dijon Mayonnaise the best; the Southwest Ranch was not my favorite.And, that lemonade? Super refreshing and quite delicious! And, did you know that it's free refills?! Unbelievable!There's plenty of seating inside, and, I believe they have some tables outdoors? I couldn't really see, since we came in the evening.Staff were pretty kind and friendly!Definitely a great option if you're in the area!+Crafted Lemonade!+delicious Crispy Cod!+Dijon Mayonnaise+friendly service+metered, garage, and limited street parking in the area"

True Food Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (326) • $$

"Our party of three adults and two kids had a pretty nice dinner experience. We thought the food was good and the service was great.For the kids, we ordered the kids' pizza and the kids' chicken tender meal. The pizza was an all cheese pizza that was about 6inches in diameter. The chicken tender had a couple of veggie and two chicken tenders. They tasted alright. My son really liked the pizza.For the adults, we ordered the Lasagna Bolognese, Meat Loaf, and Beef Dip.Lasagna Bolognese: the mix of cheese, sauce, and a slight kick in the spice was superb. I thought this was the best dish by far. For $20, this lasagna outdid its price.Beef dip: I don't think my sis-in-law liked it that much. I thought the seasoning was a bit too underwhelming. The dish was disappointing in general.Meat loaf: we all thought it was pretty good. The taters, mushroom, and loaf mixed well with each bite. The portion size was awesome for the price.It was $105 post-tax.I'll come back for the lasagna!"

True Food Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (387) • $$

"Last minute decision to order some food with a co-worker. I placed an order for kale salad with chicken and didn't realize how pricey it was. Food was delicious and arrived pretty quickly though. But really $30 for a small salad for delivery is truly overpriced. Would not recommend delivery but possibly dining in as an option."

Kindi Chicken Rice

★★★★★ 4.5 (95)

"Awesome Hainanese Chicken & Rice! Their signature Khao Man Gai was my favorite with the flavorful and perfect rice with moist chicken. You can't go wrong with half white and half dark meat. The KMG was also good. The chicken was fried lightly. The crispy chicken wontons were surprisingly good. I am unsure what they used for the wonton skins but they were fried so lightly, I could inhale 5 of them and not feel regret. It's not like the wontons from the carry out where 2 is the most I can eat since they are heavy and greasy. The fried dough was too note worthy for me. The dough was more dense. I did enjoy the sweetened condensed milk combination."

Shooter McGee's

★★★★☆ 3.7 (443) • $$

"This bar is just great! Great food, great service, great vibes. Came in today for a quick lunch with a friend. We were quickly sat in the bar area where John was our amazing server. He was able to share his insights on the food recommendations and was just a fun individual. I will always come back to this location.!"

Yolo Restaurants & Lounge

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (4)

"Good food. High prices. Didn't get drinks. Staff as nice. Loud but good it you come for vibes and not to talk with who you came with."

Ardmore Carry Out

★★★★☆ 4.3 (43) • $

"Catfish and grits is the best I have ever had, I mean wow. I have had many things from here that have basically all been great, and the people here are great as well!"

Fountain Grill

★★★★★ 4.8 (284) • $$

"Updating my review: it's been a year since we discovered this delicious dining venue. Kudos to others who have come and reviewed with 4-5 stars. This is truly an establishment that loves their customers and takes pride in the food quality. First off, we come for their delicious Truffle fries. What is the secret to their fries? It's the prominent taste of the truffle oil. No other place, IMHO, has gotten this close. Their happy hours are a hidden secret! The gigantic $6.99 margaritas will keep you feeling "happy". I can usually get away with 2 of them(because I have a designated driver).More important are the owners, they welcome and serve you as if you are family. Their contribution to the community is outstanding. It's a place where everyone knows your name. Why not come and check it out. They are located down the street from Chick Fil A and Taco Bell. There's plenty of parking."

Rips Country Inn

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (384) • $$

"Locals recommend we must dine here when we're in town. Very cool place inside. Liked the little bar area. No problem with service I'm sure at least five different people attended to our needs. The soups were just ok. The Maryland crab was more vegetables than crab. The cream of crab was tasty and full of crab. Just too thick for me. The sandwiches were just ok. The turkey was good and enjoyed the green beans and the stuffing. It's an ok place"

GATSBY

★★★★☆ 3.9 (420) • $$

"Came here for a two friend's birthday brunch....and I have to say it looks beautiful but.....let's get to that. Everyone ordered the bottomless brunch drinks for $30. The drinks take FOREVER to come out. I asked if we could start pre-ordering them but was told they have to see the glass empty first. Let me tell you the glasses would be empty and still waiting over 30 mins or more for the next one. The menu is not for the biggest foodie. It's pretty bland choices or shall I said just more American choices of that is the vibe you would like. Also very meat friendly. If you are vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian there are not many options for you. Since I don't eat meat they did accommodate by giving me fruit on the side instead...but I did have to ask for them to wash them off as the waxy film was still on the fruit. All in all the group had a decent time. Make sure to make a reservation prior and show up with your group for seating. Also make sure to view the menu as again the menu isn't dietary restrictions friendly."

Firefly

★★★★☆ 3.6 • $$

"I had the most wonderful experience at FireFly! The ambiance of the restaurant was very cozy and organized but it was the people and food that made the experience 100x more memorable. Our waitress Tina was very charismatic and helpful in getting us accustomed, while kindly checking in throughout the night to ensure our satisfaction. Chef Red was attentive, accommodating, and extremely talented in cooking. His Alfredo pasta was creamy, very tasteful and was complemented perfectly by the salmon in it. I had to double up the sweet chilli tail on shrimp appetizers, not because they weren't enough (they were actually great, big sizes) but because the sauce Chef Red made them in were to die for, complimenting the crisp outside and tender inside of the shrimp. Overall, I would recommend anyone to come for dinner (although their breakfast was delightful as well)! Thank you Tina, Chef Red, and the rest of the FireFly team!"

Charlene's Bar & Grille

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (26)

"My husband and I were attending a concert at Howard University and decided to grab some food before the event. The place was cozy and nice that evening. It's located on the second floor. The food was delicious I had some wings and my husband had the brisket sandwich. Cornbread was good too. We had some alcoholic drinks and it had a good kick."

ONE Bar & Grill

★★★★★ 4.7 (128)

"We really liked this place!!! Too bad it's not near our house because it'd be a great watering hole. The people are so friendly and the place is chill. We stopped by after dinner nearby to have drinks at the bar.The drinks were really delicious (handmade pomegranate juice in my cocktail) with a great selection of whiskey and bourbon. The tapas selection is a wide range of 20 yummy small plates. Will is such a good bartender!Best of all, they had this great guitarist named Eric for live music. The volume and tone were so pleasant that even sitting at the bar right next to him, my husband and I could still talk without yelling. We really enjoyed our visit. We had a lot of fun and everyone is really friendly!! If you're in the area you should stop in!!"

Our Mom Eugenia - Great Falls

★★★★★ 4.5 (285) • $$$

"Loved the atmosphere, food was fantastic. I loved the laid-back ease where server was attentive but gave us girls some space to catch up first over a nice cup of coffee. Beets, cheese, everything was fantastic."

DC Capitol Square Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (76)

"I visited this restaurant yesterday due to the black restaurant boycott. The food was delicious! I enjoyed the lamb chops with mashed potatoes. The bang bang shrimp was the best I ever had. The Mango & Hennessy drink is fire. I will be back!"

Balo Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (415) • $$

"I love Balo's menu!! It has a great variety of dishes to choose from with different asian-southeast Asian inspired cuisine. If you're looking for something more of a variety, this is the spot. I definitely enjoyed the small tapas such as the chicken wings, grilled corn, and Dan Dan fries. I do Not Recommend the papya salad. It was brand, very very dry and bland. No sauce or taste. The roti tacos omg! My fave! And my husband is obsessed with their lo mein version. Saucy, flavored and portioned well. Let's talk about service because there's always room for improvement. They have in several times gotten my order wrong and wouldn't correct it. They would repeat the order but give the wrong dish. It got to the point they would repeat my order verbally but input the wrong order. And of course, would need to pay another dish..My advice, speak loudly to them and have them repeat your order twice out loud. Overall, great go to place in The Block. Good vibes and good food."

Baleadas Grill

★★★★☆ 4 (9)

"Small restaurant located off of Georgia avenue. The restaurant is small and you need to pay for parking. I got a ticket myself so don't make my mistake haha. Server spoke very little English but was super friendly. The beleadas were pretty decent. I've had better but I wasn't mad about it. The sleeper was the fried chicken. I forgot what it was called off the menu but it is in English and I highly recommend. Overall a great place. If I'm in the area I would come back."

Grand Duchess

★★★★☆ 4.4 (42)

"Been back many many times just for these chicken tenders. You get a ton of chicken and they're delicious. 10/10"

Flavorture

★★★★☆ 4 (142)

"Wow, it's been a minute since my first visit, but let me tell you, this place is the real deal! You gotta run, not walk, to experience it for yourself! I recently celebrated my good good girlfriend's birthday here and everything was absolutely amazing. The service was top-notch, I mean GREAT! The food was out of this world, DELICIOUS! And the creativity in every dish was simply AMAZING! We had a blast with the bubbly flowing, delicious food, and endless laughs! It was truly an unforgettable experience. Trust me, you won't regret it! Tell them T-Mac sent ya!"

Shilling Canning Company

★★★★☆ 4.3 (267) • $$

"Popped in this place for brunch and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I had the fried chicken that was exquisite and the hoe cake was one of the best I have had. The server was amazing and really sold the dishes. It was great that it was an open kitchen and the bar was nice. This is on my list of places to visit when I am in town."

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (736) • $$

"Came in yesterday during happy hour and sat at the bar for about 15 minutes. I wasn't greeted, and it was pretty obvious that the person was sitting there before me had left (napkin, cups and utensils were in front of me). The bartenders were busy at first but I thought surely they would at least greet me after a bit. No, they checked with the regulars next to me to see if they wanted refills and just made casual conversation. After 15 minutes I left and went to Cheesecake Factory."

Miss Toya’s Creole House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (618)

"I experienced Miss Toya's Creole House the first time recently. I loved the music and aesthetic of the restaurant! A lot of space for big parties if you choose to go in a big group. I just went with my aunt! My Aunt got the sangria which was huge and she said very delicious it had a popsicle at the top for decoration which we thought was cute. I had the shrimp and grits and it was so good very flavorful the grits alone were too good but with the shrimp it took it to a whole different level! And it tastes good the next day I definitely recommend the shrimp and grits. I cannot wait to go back and try more items off their menu! Our server was so sweet and very attentive!"

Com Tam Le Truc

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (4)

"Com Tam Le Truc is 1 of 3 restaurants within Corner Space Eden. It's kind of a mini cafeteria style/food hall that contains Vivi Bubble Tea and Izaka Donburi. My friend and I stopped by for lunch last Sunday after the list of "Boiling Pho" caught our eye. The service was pretty good and our food came out pretty quickly.BOILING PHO: SPECIAL COMBO PHO - 20The presentation was similar to what you expect of a hot pot. They bring out the portable gas stove with a medium sized stone bowl full of pho broth propped on top. The plate contained our pho noodles, a variety of different meats (meatball, tendon, tripe, eye round, brisket) and the essential garnish. We heated up the broth and brought it to an aggressive simmer before we took a sip. The broth was rich with a strong flavor of beef. It also had a lilt of sweetness. My friend and I both enjoyed the broth. We cooked some of the meats first before heating up the already cooked noodles. There was a good amount of meat, but we wish there were more noodles, lol. Overall, the meat was good quality and I liked that I could control the noodle texture on my own. After boiling for awhile, the broth does get a little too salty, so I'd recommend drinking the soup as fast as you can before it gets to that.Overall, unique pho experience. I've never had hot pot style pho before, but I genuinely enjoyed the broth and ingredients of this boiling pho. I would definitely come back for it again!"

Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (146) • $$

"I visited this location with my family today and we really enjoyed our lunch! Although the lunch special pricing is not in effect on the weekends, the pricing was fair and the BBQ was very decent! We have 4Rivers back home so I can't say that the Brisket at Famous Dave's competes with the brisket I'm used to, but the BBQ chicken was perfect and the Mac and cheese was delicious! I did not enjoy the Wilbur's beans as much as I liked the corn bread muffin. I DID like that the server asked me if I wanted white or dark meat when ordering the chicken! I'm def a dark meat kind of woman! I'd be back to a Famous Dave's if we lived in the area."

Exiles Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (121) • $$

"Super cool retro bar with no frills vibe but great vibes. Jukebox is fun, as is the squeeze bottle mixed drink option. Everyone working here was really nice and overall we just had a great time here!"

GCDC Grilled Cheese Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (714) • $$

"I stopped by a couple weeks ago on a Thursday during lunch with a friend. I liked that we could order on screens, but it would have been nice if we could look at a menu before ordering. I had to pull it up on my phone.After ordering, the service seemed pretty hectic. I went inside to pick up my order, and the employees sent me to two different places to get it. I also got an automated text before the food was actually ready, so I had to wait inside.The food was amazing, though! I had a Buffalo Blue grilled cheese and I loved the crispy bread and great flavors! This is a fun place to stop if you're a grilled cheese fan or are coming by with a friend."

Danny's Sub Shop

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (32) • $

"I ordered 4 wings and fried rice! I had the munchies and they did not disappoint. I asked for mumbo sauce and although we all know all mumbo is different, this one was good!! The chicken gave me a Popeyes type vibe! Honestly... it definitely cured my munchies for the nite"

Michael's on King

★★★★☆ 3.7 (23)

"Came here for my dad's birthday and it was a good experience. I rather enjoyed the ambiance of this place. "It's giving"...family owned small restaurant with a slight resort feel. The ceiling fans reminded me of something I've seen while dining outdoor on a tropical vacation. To think it's nestled in Old Town. I got the chicken Parmesan and loved it. Chicken was crispy and sauce was good, I just thought the noodles were somehow heavy. I later found out that they are homemade...so I don't know guess I prefer store bought *shrug*. Half of us enjoyed every bit and the other half would change one or two things but still enjoyed their meal. My relative wanted a less sweet taste to the Milanese dish and I wanted thinner noodles. There wasn't anyone else there when we got there so it felt like we rented the place out. The waitress was friendly and responsive. They slowly trickled in as we were finishing up. We parked on the street and I didn't check out the bathroom so I can't comment. I would visit again and would recommend it."

Preservation Biscuit Company

★★★★☆ 4.3 (327) • $$

"Hidden gem and great breakfast/brunch spot. Ordered the avocado sandwich which had egg and bacon as well. Hot sauce available upon request!Service was prompt and the vibe was very low key and chill."

Primrose

★★★★☆ 4 (268) • $$

"This is easily one of our favorite local spots. The service is always excellent, with attentive management that makes you feel at home. Their rotating menu is consistently creative and delicious, and the wine selection is top-notch. It has a unique, cozy ambiance, and it's the perfect place for a relaxed yet classy dining experience."

Chaat and More Indian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.2 (34)

"One of my favorite Indian spots in the area. I always get the veg thali and it's so much of everything I want at a reasonable price. You get rice, 3 vegetable sides, pickle, papad, a samosa, chapati/naan, and a little sweet. It's such a wonderful deal and I don't eat a lot so I'm able to get it to last for 2 meals! I want to try the vada pav and pav bhaji but my mom makes those SO well nothing will be a fair comparison. Definitely try this place!"

Eden’s Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (38)

"Went for lunch. The outside front of the restaurant is cute, but the sign isn't the easiest to see. Limited parking spots on the street in front because almost all filled by red taxi cabs, which looked like they were waiting to be repaired in a nearby body/mechanic shop. Fortunately, I found a street spot around the corner on the side street (looks like there is a parking lot at the back of the restaurant that is accessible through an alley on a side street.There were only 4-5 patrons in the restaurant when I arrived on a Thursday. You order at the counter/bar area and then sit at a table while your meal is prepared. No one was at the bar when I first stepped in, so after a minute of waiting, I rang the small bell sitting on the bar. A woman immediately came out from the back and asked what I would like to order. I ordered the platter of 6 vegetarian dishes and asked the woman to decide the dishes, and she said ok.The wait was a little longer than I expected, but I think that is because the cook was making everything fresh. The food is served on a platter topped with injera and then with the selected dishes poured atop the injera, just like Ethiopian food. For the most part, I didn't know what I was eating exactly (I knew one dish was collared greens, another a cabbage dish, and a third was a beautiful, vibrant, fresh salad of lettuce, tomatoes, and onions in a light delicious dressing), but everything was outstanding. I later learned that the other three dishes were a lentil dish, a yellow bean/pea dish, and an orange traditional Eritrean chickpea dish. All three were delicious, but I really liked the chickpea dish.When I finished eating, I asked for a carryout container and also a takeout order of the Derek Tibsi because I wanted to try a meat dish. The woman asked if I wanted it spicy, and I said I did. The Derek Tibsi was fantastic-- cubes of beef with what looked like okra in a sauce that had some heat (next time I will ask for extra spicy) with a side of the fresh salad and collard greens. Total including 20% tip was between $40 and $45."

Puddin'

★★★★☆ 4.3 (471) • $$

"Goodness, I think if I could eat the red beans & rice from Puddin everyday I would be set for life. This dish was so filling and a great portion size. I love that it was seasoned to perfection and the red bean and rice ratio was on point. Puddin is one of the businesses within Union Market doing their thang! The employees were very friendly and helpful when I stopped by. I would highly recommend the red beans and rice and their bread pudding it's so so goood. Support this Black owned business, they are holding it down with the southern food within the NoMa area. Thank you!"

The Dish & Dram

★★★★☆ 3.9 (179) • $$

"Another excellent meal at Dish and Dram. Service was outstanding. Mellow atmosphere. Not too loud. Just right for quit conversation amongst others enjoying their evening as well."

Zao Stamina Ramen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (164) • $$

"One unique thing about Zao is that they are one of the only ramen shops in the area that can offer you a wide array of ramen! It's really great for anyone that wants to try something different. And unlike Menya Hosaki, they have more reasonable open times. From their monthly specials calendar, I ordered their Kombusui Tsukemen, which was only being offered for two days. When the food arrived, a staff member explained the process of how to eat everything (salt dip to noodles and then broth), and then was willing to repeat it all when I asked!The whole wheat noodles were cooked to the softness of my liking. The kombu (kelp) broth and the chicken and dashi soup on their own were so good and unlike any ramen broth I've had. It's delicious with the noodles and meat mixed in. In the end, my stomach was full and I was hoping to avoid another food coma but still felt it a little this time. This special was $25 before tip, so remember it's a bit more than the regular bowls of ramen. Can't wait to come back for another special!"