The District of Dining can please any palate, especially those looking for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options at the city’s restaurants.
The Korean fast-casual spot features a menu that is entirely gluten and tree-nut free. The build-your-own layout offers base options including a rice bowl, a Korrito (Korean-style burrito), noodles or a salad bowl. You can then customize with your choice of protein, vegetables, sauces and extras.
The “criminally delicious,” dedicated gluten-free bakery serves up breads, pastries and desserts, but also pizza, sandwiches and khachapuri. Also operating as a test kitchen, Sweet Crimes is always churning out new goodies and accepts custom requests.
Head to Dupont Circle for a too-good-to-be-true gluten-free experience. Across the Pond offers pub fare, including crispy and crunchy onion rings, fried pickles, fish and chips and chicken tenders. Nope, there’s no gluten. Yes, it all tastes great. Dig in.
Among the eclectic and historic nooks and crannies of Adams Morgan is Rise Bakery. The 100% gluten-free bakery offers a plethora of goodies, from flaky croissants and jalapeno cheddar bread to gooey cinnamon rolls and cupcakes. The menu also features paninis and breakfast sandwiches.
Vegan & Vegetarian Options
Like its name suggests, HipCityVeg offers a fully plant-based menu with fast-casual coolness. Choose from a variety of burgers, chick’n sandwiches and salads. There are also breakfast items and a rotating selection of seasonal vegan milkshakes.
Nourish your soul with all-natural options from NuVegan Cafe. The expansive menu is sure to satisfy any vegan craving, with selections ranging from crab cake sandwiches and weekend brunch offerings to smoothies and baked goods.
Indulge in 100% vegan baked goods from Sticky Fingers Bakery, brought to you by two-time Food Network Cupcake Wars winner Doron Petersan. Whether you’re vegan or not, it really doesn’t matter; the bakery simply deals in deliciousness with items like s'mores cookies, rich brownies and a lineup of mouthwatering cupcake flavors.
Upstairs, the fully vegan delicatessen offers Italian American-inspired sandwiches, bowls and salads, as well as cheeses and daily deli and bakery case specials. Downstairs, the Botanical Bar features local beer, vegan-certified wines, creative zero-proof options and craft cocktails featuring plant-based ingredients.
At Mita, co-owners Miguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora elevate root-to-stem dining with a vibrant tribute to Latin American flavors, emphasizing vegetable-centric cuisine. Mita features a sophisticated 14-course tasting menu that melds traditional ingredients with contemporary techniques to create signature dishes like the asado negro terrine and arepas with a trio of sauces.
Native Washingtonians Dontrell Britton and Nathan Headspeth created Glizzys’ Vegan Food Company to form a community based on quality vegan food with hometown flair. Menu items, named after DC neighborhoods, include the sloppy soufside (100% plant-based sausage with lentil chili and vegan cheese sauce), Brentwood burger (black bean, brown rice and lentil patty with arugula, pico de gallo, crispy onion rings and uptown sauce) and Mt. Pleasant Mexican street corn( cilantro, vegan cheese, lime and uptown sauce). Coming from challenging upbringings, the founders are now dedicated to mentoring local, at-risk youth through the Glizzys Crew Youth Program.
Enjoy your favorite Asian flavors in plant-based fashion at the kosher certified, fast-casual restaurant. The menu boasts loaded egg rolls, fried rice and noodle varieties and chick’n enhanced with teriyaki, sweet and sour, sesame and peanut sauces.
Indulge in sushi selections, small plates, dumplings and noodle dishes created with plant-based ingredients, like ahi watermelon, hearts of palm “crab” and beetroot tuna tartare. The upscale, Asian-influenced hot spot also features lunch, brunch and weekly discounts.
Elevate your vegan dining experience with a six-course tasting menu at Elizabeth’s. Discover the decadence of plant-based foods with seasonal options such as cassava gnocchi with potato roulade, vegetable gateau, celery cured onion and morello cherry sauce.
Gluten-Free & Vegetarian Options
Eating your vegetables is no challenge at Chaia. The vegetarian, gluten and nut-free taco concept features tacos of five veggie varieties at a time, crave-worthy quesadillas and enchiladas and fresh sides, including green rice with herb pesto, feta and pepitas. Almost all items can be made vegan if not prepared so already.
Ambar
Balkan-inspired Ambar goes above and beyond with its annotated allergy menu, noting which of their small plates are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and sesame-free. They also take care to label which dishes can be adjusted to fit the diner's dietary needs. Please note: this menu does include plates with meat.
Formerly one of The Food Network's "26 Best Food Trucks" in America, Fava Pot is now an established brick-and-mortar storefront in Dupont Circle. The spot is a popular destination for healthy, home-style Egyptian cuisine, with vegetarian highlights including made-from-scratch, signature falafel and famed lava beans, slow-cooked for 12 hours in secret spices.
Colorful vegetarian dishes are easy to come by at fast-casual Indian spot RASA, where you can choose a pre-made meal or customize your bowl or roti wrap. With affordable prices, the concept is the ultimate realization of something the founders and their families have been doing in the DMV for decades: making Indian cuisine accessible. One of the best items, however, comes toward the end of the menu – vegan soft serve. A tamarind margarita or spiked mango lassi isn't a bad option, either.
DC locations include Mount Vernon Triangle and Navy Yard/Ballpark.
Feed your dietary and literary needs at this DC-based restaurant and cafe. Busboys and Poets is a hub for activism, culture, literature and the arts. The restaurant features a range of choices for gluten-free and/or vegetarian diners, including gluten-free pancakes, coconut tofu bites and vegan meatballs.
Prioritize healthy eats without sacrificing flavor and convenience at Flower Child, which makes sure to specify every gluten-free, vegan and/or vegetarian menu option. Favorites include the gluten-free white cheddar mac and cheese and green chile queso with chickpea "chorizo".
Silver Diner delivers a classic diner experience with diverse gluten-free, vegetarian and plant-based options made from locally sourced ingredients. Standout menu categories include all-day breakfast, seasonal selections, “flexitarian” items and vegan milkshakes.
From the creators behind POW POW, Bubbie's Plant Burgers serves up plant-based & kosher certified burgers, chick'n sandwiches and loaded fries. Additional standout items include buffalo fried chick'n salad, onion rings, a black & bleu grilled "steak" sandwich and handspun milkshakes.
Most menu items can also be made gluten-free.
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