Best Casual Restaurants in Shaw

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

Regions

District of ColumbiaMaryland - DC SuburbsVirginia - DC Suburbs

Neighbourhoods

Adams MorganAlexandriaArlingtonBaileys CrossroadsBethesdaBrookland / Brentwood

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral washroomWheelchair access

323 restaurants available nearby

1. Ambar - Shaw

4.6

Exceptional(468)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Balkan Style • Shaw

Booked 42 times today

Welcome to Ambar, where you are invited to explore the dynamic flavors of Balkan cuisine. What distinguishes us, is our well-curated, exclusive 'Dining Without Limits' experience, which brings you the soul of Balkan dining traditions. Our extensive menu boasts a variety of shareable small plates, perfectly paired with a vast selection of premium Balkan wines. Whether joining us for a leisurely lunch, celebratory weekend brunch, or an evening of indulgence, our unlimited dining menu promises to deliver an unparalleled culinary journey. We excel in serving individual guests, as well as larger groups, and private events.

2. Baan Mae

4.9

Exceptional(71)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Asian • Shaw

Booked 15 times today

We are a Laotian restaurant in the heart of the neighborhood of Shaw. Baan Mae means Mom's house in Laotian. Chef Seng of Thip Khao and Padaek is serving up dishes reminiscent of her home kitchen and her mother's kitchen. Mom's House Reservation Policy:All reservations are allowed a 15-minute grace period. All parties must be present at the restaurant to be seated. If parties are incomplete by the end of the 15-minute grace period, the reservation may be moved to the waitlist upon the completion of the party.Reservation wait times may be impacted in the case of rain or heat advisory as we will do our best to accommodate patio reservations indoors.Due to our limited seating capacity, all reservations are limited to a maximum of 90-minute seating time and 2 hours for large parties of 5+.Please contact us for for reservations for parties of 5+.

3. Haikan

4.6

Exceptional(658)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Ramen • Shaw

Booked 29 times today

Haikan is our second Sapporo Ramen shop in DC after Daikaya. Haikan means, “pipe works” in Japanese, an ode to Atlantic Plumbing Building where we are located. At Haikan, we focused on creating the taste of ramen from the showa period, the golden age of ramen in Japan. There are over 1000 ramen shops in the city of Sapporo alone, and we are excited to share a completely new line-up of traditional Sapporo style ramen in DC. In addition to ramen, we are serving a playful selection of Japanese-inspired kozara (small plates) to share, or to start with, or to make a whole meal of by picking a few of them. Haikan's bar serves a collection of Japanese-inspired cocktails, and a concentrated selection of Japanese sake, shochu, beer, whisky, and more.

4. Service Bar

4.6

Exceptional(10)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Cocktail Bar • Mount Vernon Square

Service Bar, opened by Chad Spangler and Glendon Hartley, has provided Washington DC with a relaxed and intimate alternative to the typical stiff-upper-lip cocktail bar.

5. HalfSmoke

4.0

Excellent(1261)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • U Street Corridor

Booked 7 times today

HALFSMOKE is a modern day gourmet American restaurant serving a classic American menu of premium wood grilled dishes, tater tots, mac and cheese balls, funnel cakes, milkshakes, liquor, beer and wine.The beverage program features a wide array of innovative alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. A full bar of alcoholic beverages to include seasonal craft cocktails, boozy milkshakes, 10+ craft beers (with an emphasis on local), as well as wine, and mixed drinks on tap. Non-alcoholic beverages to include craft sugar cane soda, house-made seasonal lemonade and teas, and ready to drink juices, sparking water and cold brew coffee are also available.

A photo of Emmy Squared Pizza - Shaw DC restaurant

6. Emmy Squared Pizza - Shaw DC

4.1

Excellent(130)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Pizzeria • Shaw

Booked 1 time today

Serving Detroit-style pizzas and an award-winning burger. Full service bar, local drafts & wine selection.

7. SHIA Restaurant

4.9

Exceptional(80)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Korean • Washington

Booked 23 times today

SHIA (shee-uh) is a modern Korean fine dining restaurant in Washington, D.C., dedicated to sustainability, innovation, and cultural storytelling. Our tasting menu-only experience spotlights the intersection of local agriculture and premium Hansik ingredients, using fresh, seasonal elements with minimal manipulation to honor the environment. As a non-profit restaurant, SHIA is more than just a dining destination; it’s a platform for tackling key challenges in the restaurant industry, from environmental responsibility to fair labor practices and culinary heritage preservation.**Please Note: Chef Lee's appearance is not guaranteed, and his availability is not given to the team or guests.**

8. Chaplin

4.8

Exceptional(1599)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Japanese • Shaw

Booked 39 times today

Chaplin's Restaurant & Bar is a 1930's style Japanese Ramen House and cocktail bar. Chaplin's Executive Chef and Partner, Myo Htun, is originally from Burma, but was cooking ramen in Japan at a young age. Myo received a blessing from his mentor in Japan after nearly 30 years of cooking in Japan, to come to America and continue to showcase his authentic Ramen and traditional Japanese cuisine. Chaplin's Restaurant demonstrates the aesthetic of a bustling ramen house in Japan in the 1930's silent film era. There is also a large outdoor dining area that is dog friendly. Chaplin's is located in the heart of the Historic Shaw neighborhood. And it is open until last call 7 days a week. Chaplin's received a Plate certification in the Michelin Guide in 2020. And it is located steps from the convention center and popular Logan Circle, 14th street and City Market.

A photo of Founding Farmers & Distillers DC: Chinatown restaurant

9. Founding Farmers & Distillers DC: Chinatown

4.4

Awesome(10446)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Mount Vernon Square

Booked 141 times today

Walking distance to many of DC’s historic landmarks, Founding Farmers & Distillers offers a diverse menu including dishes inspired by nearby Chinatown and cocktails featuring our in-house distillery, Founding Spirits. Open 365 days a year, our team is passionate about crafting dishes & drinks from scratch with high-quality ingredients from farmers and suppliers we know and trust. Join us for breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekday happy hour, decadent weekend Farmers Market Buffet Brunch, or grab a cup of house-roasted coffee and breakfast treat from our First Bake Cafe. Majority owned by American family farmers, including the more than 50,000 farmers of the North Dakota Farmers Union, our restaurant is guided by a very simple principal: we see and share everything Through The Eyes Of The Farmer.™ We actively care about our guests, our communities, the planet, and the next generation. This all comes together in our everyday

A photo of Caruso's Grocery - DC restaurant

10. Caruso's Grocery - DC

4.8

Exceptional(1220)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Capitol Hill

Booked 62 times today

Please note that we are not offering Restaurant Week at our DC location. Located at 914 14th Street SE in Washington, DC.Caruso’s Grocery is modeled after the classic, Italian-American "red sauce" joint. You know the one: red banquettes, a killer chicken parmesan, Sinatra pouring through the speakers. If you’re looking for modern interpretations of a chef's take on the classics, you won’t find them here. A joint venture from Neighborhood Restaurant Group and Partner Matthew Adler.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

J
James
Washington, D.C. Area •9 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Wonderful evening. Many small plates, each one better than the last. Finished with the Baklava and a scoop of vanilla ice cream...fantastic. highly recommend! My wife is Bulgarian and they had Bulgarian wine! When you go look for Nemanja. A great guy who was great at his job and, very friendly, made great recommendations. Thank you Nemanja!
More info
Ambar - ShawPrice: Moderate• Balkan Style• Shaw
•
4.6
K
Katherine
Washington, D.C. Area •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Service was great, got seated immediately and drinks came out quickly! Favorite cocktail was the semester abroad! Really delicious cocktails!
More info
Service BarPrice: Moderate• Cocktail Bar• Mount Vernon Square
•
4.6
K
Kenneth
San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Food was phenomenal. Every bite of every dish was delicious. Highly recommend.
More info
Baan MaePrice: Expensive• Asian• Shaw
•
4.9
J
JEFF
Atlanta •4 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
As a DC native, I grew up on half smokes at cookouts, so this restaurant is a fav of mine. The food is excellent, the space has a comfortable vibe, and the service is always friendly. The sandwiches seem a little smaller than a couple years ago but always tasty and well crafted.
More info
HalfSmokePrice: Moderate• American• U Street Corridor
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4
A
Ashley
Washington, D.C. Area •1 review
5.0
Dined on Jan 26, 2025
We ordered the Ramen option that was on the "Special" menu. It included Red Snapper and it was delicious.
More info
HaikanPrice: Moderate• Ramen• Shaw
•
4.6

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