The 10 Best Restaurants in D.C. Right Now

Let's face the music: D.C. is a foodie city. As you read this, a photo of a meal is being Instagrammed somewhere in the District and any mention Restaurant Week is incites the same level of excitement as Fashion Week. D.C. may not be large, but it's a densely populated melting pot with restaurants that aim to satisfy the diverse palates of its residents. Dining in the city is an adventure, one that inspires Yelp lists on the regular.

We're adventurous, so we elected to highlight some of the area's best restaurants. Be aware that this is just a brief glimpse at a few D.C. restaurants that are hot at the moment. There are many amazing restaurants in this city; just because your favorite isn't mentioned, doesn't mean that isn't elite. It's absence doesn't mean you can't love it like your only child.

If you're a furloughed government employee, these places most likely have something to soothe your pain. Consider this list of the 10 best restaurants in D.C. right now a celebration of comfort food.

Written by Julian Kimble (@JRK316)

RELATED: The 25 Best Bars in D.C. Right Now
RELATED: The 25 Douchiest Bars in D.C.
RELATED: First We Feast - How to Get VIP Treatment in a Restaurant

Address: 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Website: wearefoundingfarmers.com

Located near the World Bank and George Washington University, you're instantly drawn to the decor of Founding Farmers. But the huge jars of food, decorated pillars and barrels are nothing compared to the food at this self-aware restaurant. The menu lets you know from the jump if certain selections are vegan, vegetarian or if they contain peanuts or tree nuts. If you're there for dinner, you can select the popcorn of the day as a starter; if you're there for breakfast or brunch, you can try Uncle Buck's Beignets, which are sugar-coated fritters with raspberry, caramel and chocolate dipping sauces. You can never go wrong with the signature chicken and waffles, either.

The downside to Founding Farmers is that the wait can totally kill your vibe, but by the time you're pregnant with a food baby, you'll have forgotten all about that.

Address: 3513 14th St. NW
Website: phovietwdc.com

Pho Viet is very quietly the city's best Pho spot. The reason that it's superior lies in the slight lack of popularity—it's rarely crowded, so waiting to be seated and on your meal are never concerns. If you're late to the party that is the pho craze, it's a Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of either chicken or beef, herbs, bean sprouts and peppers in a bowl of broth that you can season to your liking. Pho Viet offers a Lemongrass Pho with Red Chili that will open the sinuses of snuffy-nosed patrons when the season changes and the common cold starts jumping from person to person.

If you're interested in more than pho, there are a number of rice dishes and vermicelli bowls to fill you're stomach. Less adventurous customers can stick to the standard fried rice, but we implore you be brave and take a risk. Working backwards for a moment, there are awesome appetizers like the Summer Rolls, which are shrimp, vermicelli noodles, bean sprouts, lettuce and mint wrapped in rice paper and served with a side of peanut sauce. This may not be huge, upscale restaurant, but you never have to struggle with huge, upscale restaurant lines to get your pho fix. That's all that matters.

Address: 2003 P St. NW
Website: eatyourpizza.com

If your inner 7-year-old craves pizza, it will direct you towards the Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle. It offers a variety of eight and 12-inch pies that range from the standard (Margherita) to the more exotic (Siciliana). Then, of course, there are the salads, paninis, antipasto, bruschetta and mozarella fresca, which consists of buffalo mozzarella, artichoke hearts, parsley, red onion and homemade bread. Wash it all down with a stacked beer menu which, quiet as kept, probably qualifies Pizzeria Paradiso as one of the city's better bars, as well.

Lastly, this is one of the many restaurants in the area that's cutting government employees some slack in the form of $2 bottles of Port City Essential Pale Ale. Pizzeria Paradiso cares if don't nobody else care.

Address: 707 6th St. NW
Website: graffiatodc.com

If you're in Penn Quarter and in search of a good meal, it's almost inevitable that you'll end up on the 700 block of Northwest 6th Street. Now the dilemma sets in-do you go to Daikaya or Graffiato? That all depends on what you're in the mood for. If it's Italian, Graffiato is the easy selection. As the creation of Top Chef's Mike Isabella, the 130-seat restaurant offers a plethora of affordable dishes, but you have to keep up—the menu changes frequently. If a selection from the wood oven menu piques your interest, there are the Amish Chicken Thighs, the New York Strip and Swordfish. Is pasta your thing? Keep it simple with the Hand Cut Spaghetti, which is covered in olive oil poached cherry potatoes and Thai basil. The pizzas are heavily influenced by pop culture and geography: there's the Dirty South, then there's the White House and the Jersey Shore (Iseabella's from Jersey, so it's pretty fitting). Then, of course, the are the pork-heavy Porky's Revenge (so clever), the Hobbit, the Goodfellas and the Rocky Balboa for everyone who loves the underdog.

The beauty of Graffiato is that you can diversify your palate, or you can just eat pizza and call it a day. The choice is yours, and it's pretty easy to make the right one.

Address: 1503 17th St. NW
Website: sushitaro.com

Calling all sushi lovers with money to blow. Sushi Taro has graduated from a place to grab sushi after kneeling the clock out on the last few hours of work to one of the finest Japanese restaurants in D.C., complete with lunch and dinner selections ranging from reasonably priced to pricey. There should be more a big deal made in the District about the lunch menu, where you can get a bento box complete with tempura, sushi, rice, miso soup and pickled vegetables for just $12.95. You can also step it up and try the sushi or traditional Kaiseki tasting, which cost $80 per person, but the chef puts on a little show for you, preparing each dish and acting as a spirit guide on your dining journey.

Sushi Taro is as equally clutch for a quick bite as it is for a night out with a living, breathing date, who will most likely be just as entertained by the tasting session as you are. No need to front for each other.

Address: 1624 Q St. NW
Website: hanksoysterbar.com

Hank's Oyster Bar, the first restaurant that owner and executive chef Jamie Leeds opened on her own, has been a hit since its inception. Named for her father, Hank, the Dupont Circle location opened in May 2005, treating patrons to a unique mixture that adds up to "Urban Beach Food." The beauty of a place like Hank's Oyster Bar is that, yes, it serves seafood, but you can feast like a king or queen even if you're not a seafood fan. There's the Oyster Po'boy and Lobster Roll, and then there are the Molasses Braised Short Ribs, Flat Iron Steak and Chesapeake Fried Chicken. Then there are the Lobster Deviled Eggs and Old Bay Fries, the latter of which are a DMV staple, because Old Bay goes on crabs and people love crabs in the area. Do your best to stay on top of the menu at Hank's because it changes daily.

Hank's also offers a drink called the AK-47. Proceed with caution.

Address: 705 6th St. NW #1
Website: daikaya.com

Typically, when people hear the word "ramen," they're taken back to the end of a semester at college when the cafeteria was closed, they were broke and there was nothing else to eat but ramen. This ain't your Top Ramen from freshman year. After opening earlier this year, Daikaya has brought the traditional cuisine and ambiance of a Sapporo ramen shop to the District. It's quickly ascended the ranks, becoming not only one of the city's best new restaurants, but one of its best restaurants period.

It's divied into two sections: the ramen shop on the first floor, and izakaya on the second floor. All of the ramen bowls served on the first floor are topped with pork, with the exception of the vegetable ramen, which is 100 percent vegan. The second floor features comfort food like the chicken and waffles (a brunch staple), as well as French toast that's soaked up to perfection by soy milk. In September, they added a latenight menu (11 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday and Sunday), like "okonomiyake style" tater tots and multiple bao variations. They also flirted with pop tart and doughnut ice cream sandwiches.

Food aside, Daikaya also stands out for the little things, like attention to detail. For example, marvel at the menu, in all of its newspaper ad-esque glory. The music is also amazing, because ramen should always be enjoyed to the sounds of Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go For That."

Address: 505 8th St. SE
Website: tedsbulletincapitolhill.com

There are two Ted's Bulletin's in D.C. (Northwest 14th Street; Capitol Hill), but the Barrack's Row location has spent the last three years solidifying its reputation. Upon entry, you feel like you've walked into a 1950s malt shop, like on Pleasantville shit. The old school vibe extends to the menu, which looks like a very old newspaper, hence the restaurant's name: Ted's Bulletin.

The breakfast menu features the Walk of Shame Burrito, which will either having you laughing at yourself on a Saturday morning, or eating your depleted self-esteem away because it's just that good. Not a breakfast person? The lunch menu feature's the Ted's 'Burgh, a burger with cole slaw, french fries and a fried egg on top of it. You're encouraged to smash it with your fist, which essentially cements it as a little kid's dream come to fruition. Speaking of a little kid's dream, let's not forget about the different flavors of Pop Tarts available for your enjoyment.

Back to the malt shop theme for a second—Ted's Bulletin offers "adult" milkshakes, which are spiked with liquor. Enjoy them while watching old movies and cartoons, because visiting Ted's Bulletin is like dining in a time machine.

Address: 633 D St. NW
Website: rasikarestaurant.com/pennquarter

Rasika has two critically-acclaimed restaurants in D.C., but we're zeroing in on the Penn Quarter location. The restaurant specializes in modern Indian cuisine like the Shrimp Upma, the Mango Shrimp or Spicy Reshmi kebab. The dinner menu includes Tandoori Chicken Tikka, Black Cod and Chicken Tikka Masala, the latter of which is a favorite dish of the U.K. If you're hungry and looking to boss up, try the Grand Menu, a four-course tasting menu, or the Chef's Table, which will lead to six courses of non-stop face-stuffing.

Yes, Rasika is expensive, but it's money well spent. If you're going to pay top-dollar, that money should go towards the best. It doesn't much get much better than this D.C. legend.

Address: 1234 H St. NE
Website: tokiunderground.com

If you're on the 1200 block of Northeast H Street around 5 p.m., you might happen upon a line in the middle of the block. Free crack giveaway? Not ex'sactly-it just means that Toki Underground is about to open. Part of the reason why there's always a wait at Toki Underground is because the place is so small. Located above the Pug, there are under 30 seats in this tiny attic of a ramen shop. It doesn't matter what time you get there (within reason), if you arrive early, you'll be camping out like your waiting for Jordans. But there's an additional reason aside from the lack of size which explains why Toki is so popular—the ramen is impeccable.

Chef Erik Bruner-Yang's brainchild serves five different types of ramen, each inspired by Yang's experience at a Taipei Hakata Ramen shop. You have the option of adding pork cheek, pulled pork or a homemade Sriracha sauce to your bowl. Toki also offers a wide selection of dumplings—inspired by those made by his family—that come $5 for a half dozen. Wash it all down with Taiwanese root beer or sparkling apple soda before enjoying a dessert of warm cookies and ice cold milk. Finally, there's the decor: open, stool-only seating adorned with skateboards that serve as footrests and guardrails. The room is illuminated by red laterns that hang from the ceiling, creating a comforting glow. Yang nailed the food and the ambiance.

The downside to Toki is, of course, the wait. On average, you'll probably have at least an hour to kill before you're seated, but you are on Northeast H Street, so there are plenty of bars to kill time at.