From pop-up turned Mexican staple to casual Middle Eastern flavors, the 2023 MICHELIN Guide Washington, D.C. selection highlights how diverse the nation's capital is. And while the big news on distinctions is coming next week, we wanted to whet everyone's appetite with our Inspectors' latest additions to the Bib Gourmands.
For those needing a refresher, the Bib Gourmand is awarded to restaurants offering fabulous food and unbelievable value. In the year since our Inspectors last released the D.C. Bibs, they combed through every neighborhood from Dupont Circle to the Navy Yard.
Below, check out the Inspectors' latest wallet-friendly finds, and get ready for next week's big reveal of the full 2023 Washington, D.C. selection. Bon appétit!
New Bib Gourmands
La Tejana
Cuisine: Mexican
There isn’t a morning that can’t be made or a long night that can’t be undone thanks to Ana-Maria Jaramillo and Gus May. Once a pop-up, their cooking has found a home wedged in a strip of restaurants in Mt. Pleasant. Quick and efficient, this simple counter serves just coffee and a handful of tacos mined from a time living in Texas. Their breakfast tacos offer a singular kind of satisfaction, each one made with a superb flour tortilla kept warm in tightly wrapped foil. Fillings include soft scrambled eggs, creamy pinto beans, queso and meats like bacon, chorizo and even brisket. These are uncomplicated, unfussy bundles of joy that don’t take reservations or require any other kind of long-term planning. The team is working on expanding upstairs soon.
Yellow
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Chef/owner Michael Rafidi and team are behind this daytime casual concept in Georgetown where Levantine cooking takes center stage thanks to a wood-burning oven. It's always humming here, where long lines form for pastries, breakfast sandwiches or shakshuka in the morning and pita sandwiches, spreads and sides (creamy labne with charred corn, urfa chili crisp and smoked feta, anyone?). Fluffy pitas filled with chicken shawarma, Palestinian pickles and green tatbili labne, or tender lamb with smoked peppers, feta and toum are popular. Just try not finishing the batata tots, or golden-brown potatoes with shawarma spices and urfa sauce. To finish, a brown butter and cinnamon cookie, Turkish coffee brownie or soft serve are compelling choices.
Previous Bib Gourmands
Astoria DC
Cuisine: Asian
Bidwell
Cuisine: American
Cane
Cuisine: Caribbean
China Chilcano
Cuisine: Peruvian
Daru
Cuisine: Indian
Das
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Dauphine's
Cuisine: Creole
Ellē
Cuisine: Contemporary
Elfegne
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Federalist Pig
Cuisine: Barbecue
Hitching Post
Cuisine: Southern
Honeymoon Chicken
Cuisine: American
Ivy City Smokehouse
Cuisine: Seafood
Jaleo
Cuisine: Spanish
Kaliwa
Cuisine: Asian
Karma Modern Indian
Cuisine: Indian
Laos in Town
Cuisine: South East Asian
Lapis
Cuisine: Afghan
Makan
Cuisine: Malaysian
Maketto
Cuisine: Asian
Menya Hosaki
Cuisine: Japanese
Ottoman Taverna
Cuisine: Turkish
Oyamel
Cuisine: Mexican
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Cuisine: Southern
Queen’s English
Cuisine: Chinese
Residents Cafe & Bar
Cuisine: Contemporary
Sababa
Cuisine: Mediterranean
The Red Hen
Cuisine: Italian
Thip Khao
Cuisine: Lao
Toki Underground
Cuisine: Japanese
Sfoglina
Cuisine: Italian
Stellina Pizzeria
Cuisine: Pizza
Taqueria Habanero
Cuisine: Mexican
Timber Pizza Co
Cuisine: Pizza
Unconventional Diner
Cuisine: American
Hero image: Rey Lopez/Yellow
Thumbnail: Scott Suchman/Yellow
