Washington DC offers a diverse culinary scene that caters to various tastes and dietary preferences. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for healthy food options, leading to the emergence of numerous restaurants and eateries that prioritize nutritious and wholesome ingredients. This article explores some of the best healthy food options in Washington DC, providing a comprehensive guide for residents and visitors alike.
Plant-Based Dining at Planta Queen DC
For those seeking plant-based options, Planta Queen DC stands out as a local favorite. This 100% vegan restaurant offers innovative Asian-inspired cuisine that appeals to both committed vegans and curious food lovers. Located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood at 1200 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, Planta Queen DC features a creative menu with standout dishes like vegan sushi, nigiri, handrolls, handhelds, pasta, and seasonal bowls-all served in a vibrant, sustainable setting.
Gluten-Free and Kid-Friendly Options
Planta Queen DC also caters to specific dietary needs, offering many gluten-free and vegan options, including gluten-free sushi rolls and 'Chilled & Raw' items. For families, Planta Queen DC provides a dedicated kids’ menu designed to make plant-based dining fun and approachable for younger guests. Kid-friendly favorites include the avocado cucumber roll, fried rice, udon noodles, and watermelon juice-all crafted with the same quality and care as the full menu.
Popular Dishes and Desserts
Guest favorites at Planta Queen DC include the Bang Bang Broccoli, Udon Noodles, Spicy Tuna Roll, Planta Burger, Unagi Eggplant Nigiri, and Beef & Broccoli. The restaurant also offers delicious plant-based desserts perfect for anyone seeking vegan and dairy-free sweet treats. You can enjoy the Matcha Cheesecake, which is gluten-free and topped with a tangy berry compote and creamy coconut whip, or the Banana Pudding, made with rich banana custard, coconut caramel, dairy-free whipped cream, vanilla cake, and chocolate shavings.
A Vegan Date Night Spot
Planta Queen is one of the best spots for a vegan date night in DC. With moody lighting, beautifully designed interiors, and an elevated plant-based menu that includes dishes like truffle sushi, dumplings, and handcrafted cocktails, Planta Queen offers a vibe that’s both intimate and impressive-perfect for a night out.
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Happy Hour at Planta Queen DC
Planta Queen offers one of the best happy hours in DC-plus a late-night version. Guests can enjoy specialty cocktails, martinis, and spritzes, vegan sushi, and shareable bites at low prices. The late-night happy hour brings the same energy after dark.
Healthy-ish Food Scene in DC
Beyond dedicated vegan restaurants, Washington DC boasts a thriving "healthy-ish" food scene, with numerous establishments offering nutritious and satisfying meals. An influx of boutique chains - like DIRT from Miami, Fruitive from Virginia, or national Flower Child - have added to the healthy-ish food scene.
True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen is a national chain that takes nutritious eating seriously. Founded by renowned integrative medicine doctor Andrew Weil, the lengthy menu centers on making people feel better with better food. It’s packed full of eat-the-rainbow dishes like Korean noodle bowls and quinoa burgers. True Food Kitchen believes that the food you crave can also make you feel great. Their scratch-made, chef-crafted menu celebrates seasonal ingredients, bold flavors, and proudly sourced produce and proteins, creating dishes that are as nourishing as they are crave-worthy. Whether you’re joining us for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch, True Food Kitchen is the perfect place to connect, celebrate, and discover just how good real food can be.
Chaia Tacos
With an eye toward sustainability, this vegetable-loving taco restaurant in Georgetown and Chinatown uses local farms and seasonal produce to turn out some of the District’s most inventive tacos. The soft corn tortillas are made in house, where employees serve up fillings like like creamy kale and potato, rainbow carrot, and braised mushroom from from big cast-iron pots.
DIRT
Straight from Miami’s trendy, pilates-on-every-corner Sunset Harbor neighborhood, DIRT’s goal is to provide nutritious but satisfying food at an affordable price. Located just three blocks west of the White House.
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Founding Farmers: Farm-to-Table Dining
Founding Farmers is a full-service restaurant and bar majority owned by American family farmers. In our urban DC farmhouse, guests can gather around our handcrafted community farm dining tables or enjoy more intimate seating arrangements, including our popular silo-shaped booths. Founding Farmers DC restaurant showcases original artwork, including a large flying Pegasus from artist Darla Jackson and our lamb mascot (who changes outfits with the seasons) by Noella Cotnam.
Commitment to Freshness and Quality
Founding Farmers is owned by more than 50,000 American family farmers of the North Dakota Farmers Union and is supplied daily by hundreds of family farms everywhere. The restaurant offers versions of all-American and farmhouse classics with modern interpretations and preparations. The focus is to provide guests with the freshest, highest quality ingredients that have been grown and harvested, and then expertly prepared by talented chefs from scratch every day.
Allergy Considerations and Dietary Options
Founding Farmers' servers and chefs are trained to address food allergies and can offer menu variations. The menus feature many vegetarian options, and servers can recommend options for vegan guests, making modifications whenever possible.
Locations and Accessibility
Founding Farmers DC is located at 1924 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20006 on the ground floor of the contemporary-looking International Monetary Fund (IMF) HQ2 building. The entrance is on Pennsylvania Ave. The restaurant is well equipped to provide excellent hospitality for all guests. Located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C., Founding Farmers DC has an elevator and stairs to access two floors of dining, with a full bar on the first floor. There are restrooms on both floors. Metered parking is available on the surrounding streets and a Colonial Parking garage is located directly across the street at 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW. On the Orange/Blue/Silver Lines, the closest stops are Foggy Bottom (at 21st & Eye St. NW) or Farragut West (head toward 18th St.).
Other Notable Healthy Food Options
In addition to the restaurants mentioned above, Washington DC offers a variety of other healthy food options:
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- Jrink: Offers a variety of raw, cold-pressed juices - each made from up to five pounds of produce.
- Gregorio's Trattoria: Is a healthy Italian eatery that uses locally grown ingredients. Their menu features fresh salads like the 'Garden' and 'Antipasto Salad' with healthy ingredients like spring greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. They also offer a 'Gluten Free Menu' and dishes like 'Salmon alla Griglia' that are cooked in a light garlic-oil.
- Nostos: A fine-dining Mediterranean restaurant that couples the freshness of traditional Greek cuisine with a modern white-washed atmosphere. Our healthy menu has guaranteed returning customers and consists of daily fresh fish, popular lamb dishes, and several vegetarian selections.
- Härth: Inspired by our namesake, we provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere anchored around our wood-burning oven where guests and groups can gather over seasonal food and drinks, sourced from local partners and elevated by our international culinary team.
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