Whether its status as a prime family friendly destination or the seven brand-new MICHELIN Key hotels, this year proved that Washington, D.C. is so much more than just monuments and museums.
From a 40-layer lasagna to a pop-up turned contemporary Mexican restaurant, this year's Bib Gourmands are another delicious reason to pay the nation's capital a visit—for those needing a refresher, the Bib Gourmand is awarded to restaurants offering fabulous food and unbelievable value.
Below, check out the Inspectors' latest wallet-friendly finds. Bon appétit!
New Bib Gourmands
Amparo Fondita
Cuisine: Mexican
A onetime pop-up, this contemporary Mexican restaurant now enjoys a permanent home in a minimalist space just off Dupont Circle. Chef Christian Irabién prioritizes exceptional ingredients, as in corn sourced from Oaxaca, then nixtamalized in-house. The menu is wide-ranging with selections from the raw bar, appetizers, sopecitos, and an array of main dishes like halibut with mole. Sides, such as a fried plantain that seems simple but is layered with flavor, shouldn't be overlooked. No matter the selection, every dish tempts with creative and contemporary flair. Take the papaya nixtamal. Cooked in piloncillo and Mexican vanilla, served over a coconut cream and finished with fennel pollen and wildflower honey, it mystifies with mind-bending complexity.
L’Ardente
Cuisine: Italian
Many diners walking into East End's shiny Capitol Crossing development already know what they’re ordering. Chef David Deshaies' 40-layer lasagna has captivated the city’s attention and rightfully so. Tender short rib, truffled mornay, and razor-thin sheets of pasta make for a delicious trinity that tastes as good as it looks.
Bib Gourmands
Astoria DC
Cuisine: Asian
Cane
Cuisine: Caribbean
Daru
Cuisine: Indian
Dauphine's
Cuisine: Creole
Ellē
Cuisine: Contemporary
Hitching Post
Cuisine: Southern
Ivy City Smokehouse
Cuisine: Seafood
Karma Modern Indian
Cuisine: Indian
La Tejana
Cuisine: Mexican
Laos in Town
Cuisine: South East Asian
Lapis
Cuisine: Afghan
Makan
Cuisine: Malaysian
Maketto
Cuisine: Asian
Menya Hosaki
Cuisine: Japanese
Oyamel
Cuisine: Mexican
Queen’s English
Cuisine: Chinese
Residents Cafe & Bar
Cuisine: Contemporary
Sababa
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Cuisine: Pizza
Taqueria Habanero
Cuisine: Mexican
Cuisine: Italian
Cuisine: Japanese
Unconventional Diner
Cuisine: American
Yellow
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Zaytinya
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Hero image: Rey Lopez / L’Ardente
