100 Very Best Restaurants: #51 – Chiko

Chiko's tasting menu.

About

If only all fast-casual spots were as good as this Barracks Row joint from Scott Drewno and Danny Lee. Place your order at the counter, then jockey for space at the communal tables. It’s hard to strike out on the airtight Chinese/Korean menu. We start with slender spring rolls, soy-glazed wings, and all manner of dumplings, then move on to tongue-singeing cumin-lamb noodles, fried rice with smoked bluefish, and “orange-ish” chicken. Next up, a Dupont Circle location opening in February. Inexpensive.


Ann Limpert
Executive Food Editor/Critic

Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.

Food Editor

Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.

Jessica Sidman
Food Editor

Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.