Best places to eat at the Smithsonian museums?

[Anonymous]

Is there a cafeteria? Anything particularly good or is it all premade sandwiches and pizza?

[Anonymous]

The Native American museum has the best food.

Their cafe was closed for renovations, I’d double check on it is open yet

[Anonymous]

There is a nice coffee/gelato bar in the tunnel between the east and west wing of the NGA. I think it has sandwiches too. There is a sit down restaurant/ cafe on the main level of the west wing and an upper level of the east wing.

[Anonymous]

If you can walk 5 mins away, Rasika has amazing Indian food (get the fried spinach!).

[Anonymous]

I would run up to Penn Quarter there’s a Teaism, Nandos, Shake Shack, and more fast casual places.

[Anonymous]

Which Smithsonian OP?

[Anonymous]

Mitsitam Cafe in the Native American museum, for sure.

[Anonymous]

I either eat at Misitam, already mentioned here. Or Teaism, also already mentioned here. I love both (although Teaism has slid downhill a bit since the pandemic).

[Anonymous]

The African American Smithsonian has the best food!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The African American Smithsonian has the best food!!!!

Agree, and the Native American is second best.

Also like walking up to Penn Quarter for lots of options.

At least on weekdays there are also a lot of food trucks that set up around L'enfant plaza. Those are hit or miss, but generally better than the basic icecream/hotdog food trucks right on the mall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The African American Smithsonian has the best food!!!!

Just wonderful! Runner up is the Native American Museum

[Anonymous]

I have tried the African American museum yet but the American history museum is also actually good. They have a farm to table thing going on and an excellent selection. I also like the Native American museum but it is not as good as it was years ago unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Agree with African American and Native American!

[Anonymous]

Cafe at the American Indian museum is closed, no specific date for reopening. But you can walk over to the L’Enfant Plaza food court. It’s not upscale but there’s certainly something for everyone (5 Guys, California Tortilla, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Some of this advice is out of date, sadly.

As a PP noted, Mitsitam is closed for renovations, but even before that, the quality had slid downhill (while prices went up). I used to love the Indian taco there, but the last two times I went, the fry bread was tough and dried out and the chili wasn't as good.

National Gallery used to have a wonderful cafeteria, but they changed their vendor and now use Sodexo, which also is also the vendor for DCPS. Well, I don't know if you are familiar with DCPS lunches but... it's not an upgrade. The selection is also much more limited. Even the pastries at the gelato bar are usually stale.

The African American museums is still very good, I recommend that one.

Also, while the fare is more typical cafeteria food (burgers, chicken tenders, etc.), the quality at Natural History is better than at other museums at the moment. Unsure if they are also using Sodexo or not, I didn't inquire, but the food is fresher and seems to have better quality ingredients.

So AA and NH are the two I recommend to visitors who want to eat on the mall.