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The Best Restaurants In Columbia Heights, Washington DC

The Gowanus Canal, and the New Brooklyn Skyline
The Gowanus Canal, and the New Brooklyn Skyline | © Robert K. Chin / Alamy Stock Photo

Columbia Heights is a popular residential neighborhood in northwest Washington DC. These are the best restaurants to visit, each representing a tasty piece of the neighborhood’s culture and melting pot of citizens.

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The Coupe

A cozy spot with a dog friendly patio and late night coffee, The Coupe provides a relaxing environment for regulars and visitors. The French-American cafe sources their food from local and organic farms, and the alcohol from the District breweries and distilleries. The selection is vegetarian-friendly, offering a mushroom reuben or an open faced vegan fennel sausage sandwich. There are also plenty of options for omnivores, like fish and chips or crispy croque monsieur.

Los Hermanos

A Dominican restaurant that is family run, this is an excellent spot to get a try something new and still get a taste of home cooking. Los Hermanos is a friendly establishment that dishes out generous portions of their food that guests can mix together for the perfect meal. Guests get a choice of rice, a side and one of the many types of meat available; stewed beef or chicken, pork chops or goat, and more.

Thip Khao

A modern restaurant, Thip Khao brings Laotian cuisine and tradition to Washington, DC. A Thip Khao is a traditional communal basket that contains sticky rice and is shared among the family at meal time. At this restaurant, each table is provided with their own Thip Khao. They are given a choice of different dishes to mix it with, pairing a bite of rice with a bite of something else.

Red Rocks

With wood-fired oven pizzas and a wide selection of paninis and calzones, this Neapolitan Bistro is a chic spot to spend lunch with friends or set up a work meeting. Red Rocks also offers a range of beers and cocktails to drink with the pizza, creating a relaxing atmosphere to kick back and enjoy the meal. Add some tiramisu for dessert and the night is perfect.

El Pollo Sabroso

A simple, no-frills environment, El Pollo Sabroso is an easy-to-miss restaurant with amicable staff who are happy to help customers with questions. The restaurant specializes in Peruvian cuisine with moist rotisserie chicken, gyros and sandwiches, and the must-have yucca fries. The portions are large and tasty and can be eaten there or taken to go. Either way, it will make for a delicious evening.

Mi Cuba Cafe

A colorful space filled with tropical plants, this Cuban restaurant exudes the scents and sounds of Cuba. This is a great place to meet up with a large group of friends and share an affordable dinner out. The small restaurant is almost always crowded, as visitors and locals cannot get enough of the empanadas or cubano sandwiches. Mi Cuba Cafe also provides fresh squeezed orange juice, which can be refreshing on a hot summer day. It fits perfectly with the richer flavors of the food.

El Rinconcito II

A two-level restaurant with the bar on the 2nd floor and an outdoor patio, El Rinconcito II is a Salvadoran restaurant with a pleasant staff and equally present atmosphere. It is easy to feel at home at El Rinconcito, and that is what keeps guests returning time and again to eat more of the hearty food. While waiting for their meal of pupusas, tamales or chicharron, guests can munch on complementary chips and salsa.

About the author

Riley is a recent graduate from the George Washington University with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Communication, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. An aspiring travel writer and editor, she has a passion for learning about cultures and loves food, rock climbing and cycling.

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