1. Shouk
2. Toastique
I remember when Toastique had a single location at The Wharf – now they’ve expanded to Dupont, Navy Yard, and soon, Union Market. Stop by any of their locations to enjoy gourmet toasts, smoothie bowls, juices and more. And yes, everything’s as yummy as it looks!
Call me basic, but my favorite dish there is their avo smash, with their smoked salmon coming in at a close second. The former’s topped with marinated tomatoes, watermelon radish, micro greens, toast seasoning and chili oil on multigrain, while the latter’s made with smoked pastrami salmon, herb cream cheese, thinly sliced cucumbers, and toast seasoning on sourdough.
If you’re craving fruit, their PB crunch is a great option! And it may be the prettiest toast you can get there. Topped with bananas, strawberries, granola, chia seeds, honey roasted peanut butter, and mint on raisin walnut toast. Perfection.
3. Zeleno
Located in Dupont Circle, this gem of a cafe is really, really cute! Zeleno offers everything from wellness shots to acai bowls, but I love carbs so I always get a toast or sandwich when I go. I really like their peach ricotta – it’s served on whole grain bread with pistachios and a drizzle of Bulgarian raw honey – and their SYMI’s one of the best vegetarian sandwiches I’ve had in DC yet.
It’s made with hummus, olive tapenade, tomato, Bulgarian feta, mixed greens and served between freshly baked focaccia. Enjoy it with a smoothie for a wholesome meal that will leave you completely and utterly satisfied.
4. Chaia Tacos
This women-owned taco shop SLAPS! It’s 100% vegetarian, but everything can be made vegan on request. For those of you looking to incorporate more veggies into your diet, make sure you head on over stat. Personal favorites include their braised mushroom and creamy kale & potato. Get 3 for $13 or a tray of 12 for $42, BOOM!
5. Teaism
I have so much love for Teaism! Not only is their food delish, the owners are amazing people. I recommend heading to their Penn Quarter restaurant – the menu’s biggest here, and their tea shop’s right next door which is a huge plus.
They offer healthy, Asian-inspired eats, and popular options include their Thai chicken curry (served with brown rice and grilled veggies), okonomiyaki, and $15 bento boxes (with your choice of protein). They also have a special section called “Trash or Treasure” that utilizes products that are often wasted in restaurants. The broccoli tots are unreal, and the dipping sauce that comes with is *chef’s kiss*.
6. Little Sesame
Now that they sell their hummus in stores, I pretty much always have some in my fridge, but I still love enjoying their food at their brick and mortar in Golden Triangle. I’m a big fan of their hummus bowls! Their chicken shawarma’s usually my go-to, but their seasonal options are really good as well. They serve it with pita, but I always prep veggies beforehand so I can have it with said takeout.
7. Beefsteak
Located in GWU, Beefsteak is the amazing Chef Jose Andres’ veggie forward fast casual concept. Swing by to enjoy salads, “burgers” and warm bowls! My go-to order there is the Avo-Toasty salad, and it’s made with leafy greens, avo (of course), pickled red onion, chilled green beans, toasted brioche, poached egg, EVOO, and a beautiful sherry vinegar. The beetsteak burger’s delicious as well!
8. RAWish
Now open inside Western Market, this new black-owned business offers cold pressed juices, smoothie bowls, toasts and more. I love their build juice (made with beet, ginger, apple, lemon), and their deluxe avo toast’s pretty interesting.
It’s taco flavored, which sounds questionable, but surprisingly tasty. It’s made with avo mash, pico, walnut taco “meat,” cilantro sauce, and taco sauce on toasted sourdough. Give it a try and let me know what you think by leaving a comment below!
Alright friends, that’s a wrap for today’s clean eating post. Have you tried any of these recommendations yet? Where else should I go? Let me know what your go-to is by commenting below.
