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Until recently, tourists who trekked north from the Mall hungry for something more than Smithsonian cafeteria food were stranded Downtown with little but high-end options. Now, young Washingtonians are taking advantage of residential development and moving off Capitol Hill to Downtown, Penn Quarter, and Chinatown, where nothing short of a restaurant revolution has taken shape in the last decade.
Sadly, D.C.'s Chinatown has lost many Chinese restaurants due to gentrification. Thankfully, China Garden still stands, offering the classics of American-Chinese cuisine such as General Tso's chicken, beef and broccoli, and fried rice. You can't miss the location: a bright-red pagoda-like facade that is a neighborhood landmark. Vegetarians rejoice since there are plenty of plant-based options. The menu is diverse, and you can still get an affordable meal in the heart of D.C.
The selection of authentic Chinese restaurants continues to dwindle in the neighborhood, but Full Kee remains a local's favorite. Overlook its unassuming exterior and interior and sample its addictive shrimp or scallops in garlic sauce or try the wide assortment of Cantonese-style roasted meats. Tried-and-true dishes include dumplings, crispy duck, eggplant with garlic sauce, and gingery steamed lobster.
