It’s no secret that 2025 was a particularly harsh year for local restaurants, which had to deal with tariffs, ICE crackdowns, the government shutdown, and a diminished federal workforce. Restaurants, though, are also where we found so much comfort amid the chaos, whether over a couple pupusas at El Viejo in Silver Spring, an icy martini at the impossibly chic Occidental, or a pomegranate-glazed whole chicken at Navy Yard’s Albi, DC’s top restaurant. (Yep, we ranked them all.) Whether you’re looking for an affordable mood boost or a place to get splurgy and celebrate, consider this list your road map to Washington’s always thrilling food scene.