Ethiopian
Tacos at La Cosecha
Yellow the Cafe
Stachowski's market
La Casina on the Hill
Makan

If they live in a big city with lots of options, I'd go with cuisines that stand out in this area.
Ethiopian
Barbecue (DC has its own style but it's a southern city in many ways and the regional styles can be found too)
Vietnamese (Eden Center)
Maydan is very good too
Crab cakes/ crab (not sure if it is the season, I don't eat it)

Rasika West End has outdoor seating.

If you guys are in the mood for a short trip Carrol’s Creek Cafe in Annapolis. Great food and outdoor sitting with terrific view of the marina

Anonymous wrote:Is the friend from a large city like LA, NYC where they also have a ton of great food? Or are they from a smaller city not known for x ethnic food? If the latter, then take them to a good restaurant that has good x ethnic food. If the former, hm.. well, I would do foods that DC area is more known for like El Salvadorian or Ethiopian.

I don't find Thai food in DC all that great, tbh. You can find better in LA. Same for Korean food (I'm Korean American).

This is OP and thanks for all the great recs so far, especially the specific restaurants! That helps a lot, and I truly appreciate when you go so far as to include the link. That’s very thoughtful!

They do indeed live in a big city where there is a lot of great food! So that makes it a little harder. I’m really excited to put together a nice mini-restaurant tour for them. They so deserve the break after everything they’ve recently endured and I know she appreciates just letting someone else take the reins and set it all up. She gives us too much credit though in thinking we must know “the” restaurants to go to. Kids and Covid have made us really lame restaurant-wise so I do appreciate all the help given here.

Zaytinya or Jaleo near Chinatown

Four Sisters in Mosaic (best Vietnamese)

Mama Chang in Fairfax (great Chinese)

All these except Mama Chang have outdoor seating.

Thip Khao!

Is the friend from a large city like LA, NYC where they also have a ton of great food? Or are they from a smaller city not known for x ethnic food? If the latter, then take them to a good restaurant that has good x ethnic food. If the former, hm.. well, I would do foods that DC area is more known for like El Salvadorian or Ethiopian.

I don't find Thai food in DC all that great, tbh. You can find better in LA. Same for Korean food (I'm Korean American).

Indigo on K street - it only HAS outdoor seating!

For pizza Il Canale in Georgetown or Stellina (few locations)

Love the Nina May suggestion for a pricier splurge.

Eden Center (if in VA) or one of the Thai places in Wheaton for asian food.

Order pizza one night (do you seriously plan to go out every night?) from Timber Pizza or Vace (these are in DC). '

Tacos at any number of places.

A brewery or beer garden - Zinnia?

Union Market.

Seoul Food DC is amazing

Also recommend Caphe Bahn Mi in Old Town and Cielo Rojo in Tacoma Park MD.

Peking Gourmet Inn

Anonymous wrote:For novelty…and something delicious https://www.seoulfooddc.com/home/our-story

Oops I thought this was still operating out of the gas station. There’s another spot that is in a gas station. The place above is highly regarded.

Was going for the quirk factor.

Oh something at Union Market! La Cosecha has a few nice places. Or one of the many food stalls. Plenty of seating outside and I think you can also go up to the roof.