The New York Times started its annual 50 Best Restaurants in America list in 2021; since then, being named on this list has grown to be considered an honor and a sign of success to come for up-and-coming or overlooked eateries.
This year, two spots in the District have earned the honor of being named on the list for the first time!
Dōgon
Dōgon is an elevated Afro-Caribbean fusion restaurant located inside the Salamander Washington DC hotel near the Southwest Waterfront.
The restaurant by Chef Kwame Onwuachi first opened back in 2024 and quickly rose to critical acclaim, even being named “Best New Restaurant in America in 2024” by Esquire.
The particular dishes highlighted by the New York Times were the Ethiopian shiro and the West African jollof rice!
While on the higher end of the spectrum of the Washington, D.C. food scene, this place is regarded as one of the best places in the capital to eat.
La’ Shukran
A unique Middle Eastern bistro from the winner of the 2024 James Beard “Outstanding Chef” award, Michael Rafidi, La’ Shukran offers a different vibe from any of the chef’s other locations in the DMV area while remaining an outright success in its own way.
The NYT referred to this spot as “an atmospheric speakeasy with great cocktails, a witty, thoughtful wine bar, and a mezze bistro.”
With dishes that are equal parts respectful of traditional Middle Eastern recipes and also open to inspiration from Western culinary influence, this place offers unique plates like jibneh-stuffed falafel, dumplings with fava beans, and even whole-fried quail dunked in chile oil.
Another NYC Top-50 Restaurant in Virginia
In case you were hoping to make a trip out of the District sometime soon for a quick weekend trip, a small restaurant in the small town of Staunton, Virginia, also made the 2025 list for the NYT’s best places to eat in America.
The restaurant, “Maude and the Bear“, by chef and owner Ian Boden, gained the NYT’s attention with its multi-course meals featuring incredibly fresh seasonal ingredients prepared in creative ways to create complex dishes.
The restaurant is situated in a 99-year-old Montgomery Ward kit house, lending the establishment a charming and whimsical ambiance.