Welcome back to our series on most talked about eateries! We’re closing out the summer with a mini-series on the most popular restaurants in major U.S. cities, as measured by how many people post online reviews about them. You can read our quick primer about the series here. As a recap:
- Consumers overwhelmingly use online reviews to decide which restaurants they’ll patronize
- They mostly care about recent reviews
- Restaurants with lots of reviews tend to have positive ratings and attract more customers
We analyzed millions of online reviews during June and July to make our list. The top restaurants are the ones that were talked about the most on Yelp, Google, TripAdvisor, and other business review sites during the first two months of summer. (So, “recent reviews” means in June and July of this year.)
Diners, bars, and bakeries dominate in D.C. Read the whole list below.
1. Baked & Wired
Baked & Wired offers small-batched baked good and hand-crafted espressos to patrons in Washington D.C.’s trendy Georgetown neighborhood.
- Fare: Bakery
- Recent reviews: 223
- Yelp score: 4.5 stars
- 1 dish to try: The Honey Badger fudge brownie
- Extra credit: Check out their sweet merchandise
2. Open City
Open City prides itself on being “a space outside of typical Washington political partisanship and the battle of tourist vs. local on the metro escalators.”
- Fare: American
- Recent reviews: 137
- Yelp score: 3.5 stars
- 1 dish to try: Fried chicken & waffle
- Extra credit: Watch a video to learn more about Open City
3. Agora
Agora, which means “a gathering place” in the Aegean region, brings the flavors of Turkey, Lebanon, and Greece to Washington D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood.
- Fare: Mediterranean
- Recent reviews: 132
- Yelp score: 4
- 1 dish to try: Grilled octopus
- Extra credit: Get to know Lebanese chef Ghassan Jarrouj, who’s been preparing Mediterranean cuisine for nearly five decades.
4. Masa 14
Masa 14 offers unique Latin-Asian small plate pairings designed for sampling and sharing.
- Fare: Asian fusion
- Recent reviews: 131
- Yelp score: 3.5
- 1 dish to try: Asian pork belly kimchi benedict
- Extra credit: Check out Masa 14’s “best brunch” accolade
5. District Commons
District Commons takes a modern approach to the traditional tavern in D.C.’s Washington Circle area, right next to the Foggy Bottom Metro station.
- Fare: American, beer bar
- Recent reviews: 128
- Yelp score: 3.5
- 1 dish to try: Toasted coconut pancakes
- Extra credit: Visit any night at 10 p.m. They’ll ring the “farm bell” and serve that evening’s designated family meal.
6. Nellie’s Sport Bar
Nellie’s Sports Bar prides itself on being a quirky tribute to the rich heritage of Washington D.C.’s U Street corridor.
- Fare: American, bar
- Recent reviews: 113
- Yelp score: 4
- 1 dish to try: Nellie’s Arepa
- Extra credit: Get tickets to the bar’s famous “drag brunch”
7. Hot N Juicy Crawfish
Hot N Juicy Crawfish started in Las Vegas and has turned its penchant for spicy seafood into a national chain with a dozen restaurants coast to coast.
The Diner in Washington’s D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood offers classic comfort food 24 hours a day, seven day a week.
- Fare: Diner, bar
- Recent reviews: 104
- Yelp score: 3.5
- 1 dish to try: Chicken biscuit breakfast
- Extra credit: Read their diner’s bill of rights
9. Ping Pong Dim Sum
Ping Pong Dim Sum is reinventing the ancient tradition of Chinese tea houses, complete with a full cocktail menu.
- Fare: Dim sum, Asian fusion
- Recent reviews: 102
- Yelp score: 3
- 1 dish to try: Black salt and sichuan pepper shrimp
- Extra credit: Sign up to receive special offers
10. MXDC
MXDC Cocina Mexicana was inspired by celebrity chef Todd English’s travels to Mexico and time working in a Mexican eatery in high school.
- Fare: Mexican
- Recent reviews: 89
- Yelp score: 3.5
- 1 dish to try: Mole de costilla
- Extra credit: Get to know the restaurant’s chefs
You could be on this list!
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