44 Best Restaurants in U Street Corridor and Shaw, Washington, D.C.

Once a legendarily hard-to-reserve spinoff in the back of a bigger sibling, this critically beloved experimental laboratory of super-chef José Andrés now has about a half-dozen more seats in its new location. Yet Andrés remains as committed to pushing limits, as he puts it, using the magic of molecular gastronomy. Expect to pay more than you can imagine but leave amazed. Previous hits have included a foie-gras "lollipop" coated with cotton candy. For those not lucky enough to snag a table, try reserving online for a spot at barmini next door—the entrance is on 9th Street, north of E Street—where top-secret, creative, and already beloved cocktails are served. Demand there is so high that seatings are capped to two hours.

No-frills soul food is what you'll find at this friendly eat-in or take-out place, where the price is right, and the food is delicious. Ultrarich macaroni and cheese, succulent chicken and waffles, and teriyaki salmon just beg to be devoured, and collard greens are cooked with vinegar and sugar rather than the traditional salt pork. Save room for the hummingbird cake (pineapple with banana–cream cheese frosting). Smack in the middle of the U Street area, the place is both a neighborhood hangout and destination for those missing the perennial dishes that Mom always made best. And best of all, it's open until 4 am on Friday and Saturday.

Chef Jeff Black does serve three kinds of po'boys, but that's about as working-class as it gets at this dazzlingly decorated homage to the bivalve. East and West Coast oysters come raw, with perfect dipping sauces—at half-price all day on Monday and during happy hour every other day—or warm in five irresistible guises, from bacon wrapped to crusted in cornmeal and sprinkled with sweet-potato hash. If you eschew shellfish, Black has you covered with a grass-fed steak lovingly bedecked in blue cheese. Expect to get the best and pay for it here, where craft cocktails are $12, and each warm apple pie serving comes baked in its own miniskillet. Upstairs, the classy crowd endures lengthy table waits with Peroni on tap at the breezy Black Jack bar.

Chef Haidar Karoum grew up traveling throughout Europe, acquiring a Continental polyglot's sensibility that serves him perfectly wearing the toque at Proof. Like a wine lover's tour of the Mediterranean, diners can stop by France for the grilled flat-iron steak with sautéed spinach and bacon, or try the Turkish foray that is lamb chops with pistachio, apricot, and sumac. This is the rare restaurant and wine bar that plays both roles to the hilt, with an expertly curated cheese and charcuterie list as well as an array of small pickled plates that pair with Pinots or a craft cocktail such as the unique gin-and-lime "Dunning." The decor is soothing and chic, perfect for a postmuseum retreat.

The Commodore is burger central, offering two-patty favorites such as the Squirrel Kicker (with smoked Gouda, onion jam, and bourbon mayo) and the Neon Smash (with cheddar, bacon, pickled onions, and bread-and-butter pickles). The casual, pub-style kitchen also has great salads and sides, as well as all the draft or canned beers you could wish for. Make sure to stop by for the great happy hour from 5 to 8 on weekdays or the all-day happy hour on Thursday, when you can grab a $5 draft, rail drink, or house white or red wine. Monday food deals go until 10.

The Royal is both a Michelin-recognized Bib Gourmand restaurant and a well-priced, local favorite for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just for a matcha latte while working on your laptop at the bar. The second concept by owner Paul Carlson is a celebration of his family’s international roots, with a strong emphasis on vegetarian and gluten-free options. Stepping inside is like walking into a Colombian coffee shop or full restaurant, depending on the time of day. In the morning, grab a homemade fried-chicken biscuit with your cold brew; for lunch or dinner, enjoy the famous grilled avocado or a Bird Dog (chicken and poblano sausage). If you’re looking for something stronger than coffee, have a classic Aperol spritz or a house cocktail with fun, unusual Latin flavors.

Chef-owner Seng Luangrath learned to cook as a young girl in a refugee camp and later brought the cuisine of Laos and Thailand to northern Virginia and then D.C. The atmosphere at her Columbia Heights outpost might be casual, but the flavors of its food are complex. Order fist-size helpings of sticky rice served in wicker baskets (which give the restaurant its name) to dip in spicy sauce alongside the addictive minced-meat salads known as laab. The drink list is short, but its options (bourbon and ginger cider) are impeccable matches for the spicy menu items.

One of Boston's celebrity chefs, Michael Schlow, scored prime real estate when it came to finding a spot in which to serve his fast-paced parade of small American plates—all infused with big personality and given Latin American twists. The half-dozen ceviches are witty and inventive; the tacos thrill with creative ingredients on top of shrimp, chicken, and fish; and the vegetables are anything but boring thanks to crispy meat and citrus garnishes. Flavors are bold enough and libations (like the hibiscus margarita) are punchy enough that you probably won't mind that the tiny portions require ordering several dishes to make a meal. And if you can't decide what to eat, consider one of the prix-fixe, multidish options, or let your waiter choose for you.

Come here if you're looking for edgier Hong Kong cuisine, perhaps pork ribs slathered in soy-and-ginger sauce, a tofu claypot, cheung fun with shrimp and flowering chives, or chili wontons. Finish your meal with a traditional street dessert: a bubble waffle topped with “fun stuff” (sprinkles, lychee, Pocky sticks, and dulce de leche). A cocktail created using the principles of traditional Chinese medicine may be able to cure your hangover, headache, or cold. From 10:30 to midnight on Tuesday and Thursday, a late-night menu offers a few choice items, including cold dan dan noodles and smashed cucumber salad.

All the typical diner and Southern favorites on the menu here have an unusual twist, befitting the name of this restaurant. Start with the kale nachos or potpie poppers, then, if you’re really hungry, dive into a plate of fried chicken or the “French Dip” pappardelle. Weekend brunch includes everything from a bagel with lox to chicken and waffles, while the daily breakfast has some lighter fare. Don’t skip out on the desserts and sweets.