Absolutely adored this place. I don't even have a picture of my food because I scarfed it down too quickly! I got the feta dip to go with my fries and it was literally scrumptious. Everyone I was with got a different dish and we all tried and loved everyone's food! I especially love the mission of this place and the way they uplift people in the community. For women's history month, we were able to get a wine flight featuring all women-owned winery tastings! We were all shocked at how full each glass was for a $24 flight. I can't recommend it enough! read more

Immigrant Food - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I absolutely loved this restaurant! I went to this restaurant after visiting the museum that it's attached to. Entering from the museum entrance is a little weird because the entrance is actually in the back of the restaurant so you have to walk to the front and go to the hostess to be seated. I went around 2:00 PM and I ended up sitting at the bar, it wasn't crowded. The bar staff was prompt. As soon as I sat down, they gave me a menu and told me a bit about the restaurant. The ambience was beautiful. They had all sorts of artwork. It was colorful and the bar was decorated beautifully. I made it in time for happy hour and was able to get a lot of their selections on the happy hour menu. During their happy hour they only sell things that are on the happy hour menu. The food was delicious!! I cannot stress that enough. If you like ethnic food this is definitely a place to check out. They have food from all around. The food came out fast and it was hot and so flavorful. Definitely go visit this restaurant! read more

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I ate here about 15 months ago, but am catching up on reviews now. This was not a favorite. I enjoyed the dumplings but my chicken milanesa was dry. FYI, the restaurant includes a 5 percent "wellness" charge on top of the regular prices. read more

This restaurant has a great location. The service is good. While the menu looks interesting, I've never been really satisfied eating here, despite giving the place a few tries. I really like the concept: taking "immigrant food" and giving a new spin to the comfort foods of many different countries. In practice however, the food is adequate at best (as opposed to something new or delicious that makes you crave more). The first time I went here I got a Vietnamese bánh mì sandwich for $15, which frankly, is overpriced, especially for what you you get. In subsequent times, I tried other items on the menu. Everything I've gotten has been nicely presented, but nothing triggered a "this is so good!" reaction from me. I think the restaurant is great, the staff is great, but my tastes just don't respond to the food here. That shouldn't mean you shouldn't give it a chance though! read more

Literally left another terrible restaurant and happened upon Immigrant Food down the street. The vibes were immediately great. We were greeted upon arrival, the music is good, and the space is so cute! We ordered the Mediterranean platter, chicken wings, pupusas, the burger, and chicken parm and all shared. It was delightful. Every dish was delicious and we had enough to take home for a second meal. The mint lemonade was a 10/10. Our servers were kind, attentive, and had good recs. Couldn't have had a better time here and will be back with more company soon! read more

Immigrant Food - Chicken wings and Pupusas - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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After an enchanting morning exploring Planet Word, my friend, sister, and I decided to try Immigrant Food for brunch. Very interesting concept and combination of traditional plates from different countries around the world. We were sat at the back near the museum entrance, and later realized there's an entire dining area at the front of the restaurant. We would have preferred to be seated upfront to enjoy the beautiful weather, as the back area seems a tad claustrophobic. Now to discuss the food. My friend opted for the Peruvian chicken sandwich, my sister chose the Turkish dish, and I savored the shakshuka paired with arepa. My friend praised the deliciousness of the Peruvian chicken sandwich. I was not able to indulge as it contained gluten. However, both the gluten-free shakshuka and arepa delighted my taste buds, despite the shakshuka being a tad spicier than I'm accustomed to. On the other hand, the Turkish eggs were disappointingly undercooked, despite my sister's specific request for her preferred doneness. Unfortunately, she couldn't finish her meal due to the runny consistency. Fortunately, she found solace in enjoying my dish. Overall, the culinary experience was delightful. The waitress was nice and answered all our questions. We are eager to return and explore their dinner options at a later time. read more

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A cool restaurant tucked away near Planet Word in downtown DC. I had just gone to a Yelp event at Immigrant Food's other location, and was so enamored I had to make a second trip. I tried the tamarind ribs (the favorite of one of the two founders). It was delicious, with a sweet and sticky sauce that I thoroughly enjoyed. Not a dish for a first date! We also ordered the shakshuka, which looked hearty and filling. They have a lot of unique dishes on the menu, and most of them look quite good. The only one I'm a bit wary of is the dim sum. It seemed like a lot to pay for not a lot of food. In any case, this is a great spot for lunch, either on its own or paired with a trip to Planet Word (there's actually a second entrance to the restaurant through the museum). read more

Immigrant Food - Tamarind Ribs - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Glad to have found this place after a LOOOONG wait from another place around the corner. This is a perfect mid range budget place with very fun music (but NOT too loud). The staff is so very sweet and the food is absolutely delicious. It's a very wonderful place to spend a few hours chatting with some friends and expand your palette. read more

Immigrant Food - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wow! I just visited the coolest restaurant ever at the Planet Word museum and it was so inviting and bright! I had the pleasure of attending a Yelp event at Immigrant Food's at another location at the end of 2023 and I was so impressed that I had to make a second trip. This time, I went with a small group of my industry colleagues, which made it double the fun to network and try new items! I wish I could have tried everything, but I know I'll be back soon enough. The West African Gumbo was highly recommended and it did not disappoint! This is not your average gumbo, it's not in any type of broth, but rather on a bed of greens. It's listed on the menu under "Bowls & Salads", so I assumed it was a soup of some sort, but boy was I wrong! I absolutely loved the pickled veggies in it, but I could do without the plantains. They just don't agree with my palate. I can't wait to come back with friends so we can feast on everything! Oh, and the white sangria was so refreshing. Their happy hour menu was so enticing that I may be back sooner than I think, but until next time...enjoy! read more

Immigrant Food - West African Gumbo and White Sangria - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Did happy hour menu twice during my short stay at a hotel in the area. The first time I visited, was after visiting the Planet Word museum. I was promptly sat at the bar, and the manager checked in on me a few times while I was there. The first visit, I was alone, and ordered the Belgian fries and Tequenos, add to that a Caipirinha, and I was a happy camper. For the second visit, I had a friend come along, and we did the fries, Tequenos, Filipino chicken, and a couple of Caipirinha. Perfect spot to enjoy HH, and try some small plates to share. There's a small indoor seating area, and there are also tables outside for diners to enjoy. Servers and Bartenders were very attentive, and it was a great chance to enjoy a meal out. read more

Immigrant Food - HH options look for the cocktail symbol - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place was amazing. The food is very flavorful, which I know is not for everyone, but it was perfect for me. I tried 5 different dishes and every one was terrific. read more

It was a fun experience and great venue for a group best for a long table. Please add Filipino pancit and lumpia to the menu. read more

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This place was FANTASTIC. We liked everything about it- concept, food, decor, staff, vibe.

I came here for a weekday lunch and they were able to accommodate my group of 4 without a reservation. The space is great - with a counter option for a faster take-out meal or tables with service. The bar also showcased many books written by/are about immigrants to the US which was a nice touch. I ordered the Wes African Gumbo, which was less soupy than the southern gumbo I have had previously, but very delicious. Others order the poke and tequenos, and enjoyed those as well! I would certainly recommend this as a casual and easy staple for food in DC. read more

Immigrant Food - West African Gumbo - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I took my wife to Immigrant Food for our 8 year anniversary. I must say we both resonate with the mission at Immigrants Food. This included the aid they bring immigrants the quality of food they serve at their restaurant. The venue is very quaint and has a real nice/homie feel to it. We were hungry so we tried a lot of their food. Everything was delicious. Very happy about the food and quality of the service. The dishes that stood out were the Burrata and the Crispy Chicken and Lemongrass dumplings. We truly enjoyed our experience. read more

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This is a local DC chain with 3 locations. This location is located right at the Planet Word museum (an excellent museum I'd highly recommend visiting before/after), another location close to the White House, and another at union market. The food they offer is excellent. The ambiance is chill and modern and the staff very friendly and helpful. We had several people in our party come in at different times and the staff was very accommodating to this party size. The restaurant honors immigrants in America - and that theme plays out in their menu that offers food inspired by a wide variety of international cuisine. The menu is constantly changing - so I'm looking forward to trying the new options on my next visit. I had a Viet Vibes salad - the portion size was on the larger side for a lunch time meal. The chicken was cooked to an excellent texture and all of the ingredients blended together very well. Several people also ordered the poke and enjoyed the dish as well. Overall, this is an excellent restaurant attached to a great museum - I would recommend locals and tourists spend an afternoon enjoying both the food and museum. read more

Immigrant Food - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The general vibe honors the value of immigrants in America, and that theme plays out through much of the decor and notable quotables on the wall. Even the staff walk the walk along those lines. Very unique food options on the brunch menu. The shakshuka was excellent, and we would highly recommend it. It is accompanied by a couple warm arepas that, to be honest, seemed a bit out of place with the shakshuka - but nonetheless worked fine as part of a dipping mechanism. The Turkish eggs demonstrated the simit bread as the highlight, though I think it was a tad challenging to consume given the runniness of the poached eggs (note that others may prefer this texture.) We liked the summer gazpacho - refreshing and healthy - and the avocado toast was probably the most unique version I have ever consumed. Take a look at the ingredients to ensure that you would enjoy its component flavors. There was a manager who walked around the tables checking in with diners. I appreciated that he had a genuine interest in making sure everyone was satisfied and in delivering top-notch service (unlike other managers who might bounce around in a cursory fashion). Can't wait to return for dinner. read more

Immigrant Food - Avocado toast - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Very cute little place and we loved our visit. This was an amazing way to experience a BUNCH of fusions of different cuisines in one place and the prices were very reasonable. We got the "pick three" option and had the Crab Beignets which were full of crab meat and had an amazing crispy shell. Then the Tamarind Ribs and Samosas. The Samosas were standard but the Ribs were amazing. I've never tasted anything like them before. I could have polished off an entire rack of those. Service wise, we had a hard time figuring out who our server was or what the division of labor was. Despite this everything came out quickly. Drink refills could have been quicker. read more

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The service was slow but the food was amazing! I'm actually craving the meal I had from there. I will definitely return.

We had a 5:30 pm reservation for a hightop on a Friday evening. We called ahead a few hours and asked if we could come in at 5 pm and were reassured that would be fine. When we arrived the host at the stand (presumably the owner or manager) seated us and exclaimed he was who I had spoken to on the phone earlier in the day. We arrived during happy hour and got to take advantage of the specials in the bar area/high tops - reduced pricing for select food and drink. We began with a Sakura Sour and a Corpse Reviver - both incredibly delicious drinks. We then ordered polenta fries, Filipino fried chicken, and greek wings. Each dish was better than the previous and all worth having at least once in your life. The flavors of each dish complement each other so well and every dish is carefully crafted to be the best thing you'll eat all day. From the goat cheese and eggplant on the polenta fries to the basil and banana ketchup on the Filipino chicken, my partner and I could not recommend enough. Out of sheer gluttony, we then ordered the miso caesar salad and the shrimp ceviche as well as two more drinks: the caipirinha and the Singapore sling. The ceviche is a Mexican style ceviche, with delicately cooked shrimp and killer flavor, without too much acidity that can make or break a good ceviche. It was served with a tostone from Central America, a perfect pairing to an already perfect ceviche. My partner was hesitant about the miso salad, because how could a caesar be worth the price and be memorable? Boy, was it nice to watch him eat his words (and frankly, even more of the salad than I did). The flavors had so much umami and it took the salad so far beyond "just a caesar". On to the second round of drinks - the Singapore Sling tasted like pure nostalgia, like an orange juice for breakfast despite not containing any orange juice. Being from Brazil, I tend not to drink a Caipirinha outside of Brazil because I don't like being disappointed. After one sip of my partner's drink, I was instantly transported to a beach in Rio, sitting at a bar in a bikini surrounded by my family. By far the best caipirinha I have had outside of the motherland. We ended the meal with the "Globe", a dessert created to honor the Globe inside of the Planet Word museum that this beautiful restaurant shares a space with. You break open the beautiful blue globe with a tiny mallet to reveal a chocolate sauce inside akin to chocolate mousse that spills out over the chocolate accoutrements and light almond cake. The dessert came with an additional drizzle of chocolate to pour over an already chocolatey dessert, that was honestly as good as every other piece of chocolate we had. The meal ended with my partner exclaiming "holy forking shirt that was amazing" with more explatives than are appropriate for Yelp. The service was phenomenal, with the host checking in on us as well as other staff on top of our server. We loved signing the "passport" at the end of the meal and can't wait to come back. This restaurant has such a unique concept and manages to execute it so well, staying true to the heart of immigrant street food and cultural drinks while providing elevation and sophistication to the flavors. Congratulations to the immigrants that run this restaurant and the chef on a delightful and legendary experience. read more

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My friend and I found Immigrant Food on the inKind app. We looked at a dozen restaurants and liked how their menu had a variety of cuisines and a nice drink menu. We both ordered the Cesar salad with shiitake "bacon" and loved it. I even ordered my partner one to go. The Tamarind wings were sticky and flavorful and a nice sized serving. My friend enjoyed her bao buns but said they were missing something. I enjoyed my Cafe Calma which may have been the best late I've had in my life and my friend really liked her drink as well. We both took some things home for lunch tomorrow and will be coming back again to try their lunch and dinner menus since brunch was a hit. Luis was a really good server and even though they were busy he was attentive. The manager also checked on us which was nice. Overall, a great experience and a place I would recommend and will come back to. read more

I like the lemonade and the french fries because there were a lot of french fries with my cheeseburger. (6yo) Havana Sandwich & the Short Rib Poutine, which were both delicious. Service was great and the atmosphere was very comfortable read more

Hey so this was the best shrimp ceviche I've had in my entire life and I've had A LOT of shrimp ceviche. I stopped in and sat at the bar for a quick small dinner so I also ordered the Filipino fried chicken. The chicken was good but the shrimp was so good I got a box for my chicken and ordered another shrimp ceviche to go. The cocktails are great too and the bartenders are super chill. But if you are reading this review wondering if you should eat here and you like shrimp, I'm begging you to go. I type this as I'm eating the second shrimp in my hotel room and I WILL be going back. read more

I would not come back due to bland food. We ordered the guacamole, a bread, and shakshuka. The guacamole needs salt. It tasted so bland. That was a waste of money. The bread dish had soft and crispy bread, but the sauce that it was on had little to no flavor. I don't know if that's the point of the dish as it's foreign to me, but it was too bland for my liking. The shakshuka was also bland and tasted very tomatoey. read more

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We love the food and concept here. The restaurant combines its delicious food offerings with pro-immigrant activism, what they call "gastro-activism." They now have several locations around the region, including this one that shares a building with the Planet Word Museum on Franklin Square. The staff here are attentive. While the menu seems a bit limited, the food is good, and there is a decent selection of vegetarian and vegan options as compared to the entire menu. On the occasion, the Brussels sprouts were crispy and flavorful, and the gazpacho was chilled and light. Together, they made a filling, satisfying, and wholesome meal. read more

Immigrant Food - Brussels Sprouts - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cane in on a Sunday for brunch. It was not crowded, everyone was super friendly, the food was yummy, and we generally had a really nice time. read more

Can't go wrong with this restaurant -- beautiful restaurant interior and plating, attentive service, and the rotating menu has something new for everyone. The gambas y arepas was so delicious and flavorful! Our party agreed that all of the food was a bit on the saltier side, maybe it was just that day? Will definitely be back! read more

Immigrant Food - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Love the space which is warm and inviting with picture of books on the bar, perfect for the Planet Word location. The portions are a bit small for the cost and for a meal. The mezze platter with crudite, pita, three dips, and olives was great. The egg entrees (Turkish egg and shakshouka looked excellent), as did the burger. I wish I hadn't gotten the gambas shrimp because it's just four shrimp with a garlicky butter sauce, and a couple of excellent arepas--not a balanced or healthy meal. I wish they'd included a salad or some greens to balance the dish out. Still, I'd come back to try other items. Nice service, no complaints there! read more

Delicious food, friendly service, and welcoming ambiance. Get the dim sum - all three choices we had were absolutely perfect. The cocktails are also lovely, and beautifully presented, especially the Sakura Sour. We finished it all off with some flan, which was delightfully firm and drenched in caramel. read more

I was excited to check out Immigrant Food, and it was neat to see that they have a slight variation in their menus at each of their 3 locations. Their menu offers various street food items, bowls and salads, sandwiches, and even HH specials. I absolutely am addicted to their Venezuelan Tequenos - these are thick-cut queso blanco blocks, wrapped in dough, with a chili peanut dip; no need for the dip, as these are nice and salty on its down. Definitely one of the better tequenos I've had! The Indian Samosas has a veggie filling, with a little kick, and the tamarind chutney drizzle was a good complement; however, I'd probably request this as a side so you can choose the amount you'd like on your samosa. We've also tried the Belgian Fries - these were pretty tasty, as they were hot out of the fryer, crispy, and the garlic aioli that was served as a dipping sauce was yummy. the Filipino Fried Chicken, on the other hand, while looking tasty, was not that great - it was a mix of sweet and sour, more sour forward, and the chicken didn't seem to have been cooked through. Service is very lovely and friendly, and the set-up is great - love the decor and the upstairs space. Metered and garage parking in the area. +Venezuelan Tequenos +friendly service +metered street parking read more

There is a variety of food. We ordered appetizers and some main dishes to share. Excellent food and service.

Came for dinner with some of my foodie friends who were in town. We got a bunch of appetizers to share. The Greek wings and the miso salad was out favorite!!The wings were crispy, hot and the dip was a great addition. The salad was super fresh and the crispy wontons on top was perfect.The queso taquitos and garlic olives were really good too. The ceviche was decent and the pork belly was really good. Everything was good and the items came out pretty quickly. We got there around 6:45 and it began to fill up after that. read more

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Just a hop skip and jump off of the Mall, we were so glad we happened across this place before we left downtown AND it was Happy Hour! So we got to try lots of different things and they were all fantastic. My favorites were the Filipino Fried Chicken and the Havana sandwich. Venezuelan Taqueños were also tasty. Our server was probably the highlight though. He gave us great recommendations and made sure we didn't have food allergies and was just super friendly and attentive. We sat on the patio which was fun people watching, but the ambiance inside looked nice as well. read more

I had brunch with my husband and in laws at this location of Immigrant Food this past Saturday when we were in DC for the day. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful, but their outside seating was too tempting to pass up on a gorgeous morning. We had a reservation for 10:00 on a Saturday morning, and it wasn't busy, and we could have gotten in without a reservation. The menu is great - very varied, from small plates to brunch plates to sandwiches. Something for everyone. My mother in law had their mezze platter (hummus, muhammara, and labne with raw veggies, olives, and za'atar naan); her boyfriend had their gambas al ajillo y arepas (garlic shrimp served with Venezuelan arepas); my husband had their Peruvian double fried chicken (aji amarillo, salsa criolla, and lime with fries); and I had the Turkish eggs (sesame encrusted simit bread with poached eggs, labne, Aleppo pepper oil, cucumber, and dill). Everyone liked what they ordered. We also had a glass of wine or beer each. The service was great, and it was so lovely to eat a meal outside looking out across the street at Franklin Park. Overall, a really nice brunch. read more

Immigrant Food - Turkish Eggs - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped by after a trip to Planet word - amazing flavors with a cute setting. Definitely coming back to try more items on their menu. read more

Immigrant Food - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

IF YOU'RE READING THIS COME HERE!!! Food is absolutely incredible!! Service is on POINT!! For context, I came on a Saturday afternoon during their happy hour and was pleasantly surprised from their attentive service! They kept asking me if I liked the food and I was so happy to tell them about how yummy it was and was pleasantly impressed on how concerned they were about my experience here 10/10 please visit this place if you want great food and ABOVE AND BEYOND service !! They even replaced my drink because I didn't like it!! read more

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The food was delicious , I had the restaurant week menu, crispy chicken & lemon grass dumplings branzino & Brussel sprouts. The service was great & the vibe was great. The cocktails were delicious, I chose the flight of cocktails!! read more

Fantastic atmosphere. They have far more seating than I would have expected and surprisingly, it wasn't super busy. They have a great happy hour menu, which we took full advantage of. They have Negroni flights, which was super fun and a good wine list, as well. We tried many bites off the happy hour menu and all were delicious. We loved the wings most, ended up ordering a few more orders! read more

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Brunch with and their close friends from college and their hubbies = lot's of crazy laughter and stupid conversations :) We had reservations for 6, that we were kinda late to, but they had a spot for us. The place is kinda small, with an upper and lower level - the vibe is pretty casual, very cafeteria style but I liked it. We were seated upstairs and had to actually ask for better seating because the low sofas were not convenient for brunch. Our server was kind enough to get us a regular tabletop and we were off to the races! We started with the DIY mimosa trio (because why not) and truffle fries to share. Their menu is definitely eclectic, but also a little limited at the same time. 4 folks on the table ordered the shakshuka with arepas (including a vegan version), my husband ordered the poutine and then there was a salmon salad. The shakshuka was a definite immediate hit across the table. Ragz liked his poutine, thought it was a tad bit heavy. The salmon salad was fresh and summery. Truffle fries, also a hit. I wish there had been more vegan/ vegetarian friendly options, but overall we enjoyed our meal. I think we kinda closed the place down post brunch because we had arrived late. If we were in the area, looking for a quick light meal, we might stop by again. read more

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This was another highly recommended spot that we wanted to try out and it was perfect because they have a few spots throughout the city, including one right on the same block/building as Planet Word, so as soon as we were done at the museum we came here. The space is super cute and they have so many different seating options, high tops, patio, dinner tables, bar, etc. Unfortunately, we came here for an early lunch and because this was so close to when we had breakfast, our appetites weren't fully there yet. The menu looked so interesting though from what I had seen online and I loved that it was a ton of dishes from so many countries around the world that immigrated to the US and specifically to the DC-area. It's such a unique concept for a restaurant and we really appreciated that. Sadly, I'm not sure if it was because we weren't all that hungry yet or just didn't order good dishes or a combination of both, but the food was a bit underwhelming. We got the pistachio buns, gambas al ajillo y arepas, and truffle fries to share. The truffle flavor in the fries was not that strong and all the ingredients were very separate from one another (seasoning/cheese would fall right off when you picked up a fry). The gambas al ajillo y arepas was small in quantity and also very bland, which was super surprising given that it's garlic shrimp and the shrimp are sitting in the sauce, but there was minimal flavor in all of it, which was disappointing! The pistachio buns were perfect though and so so delicious, so highly recommend this dish. If you're wondering why it's a bit pricier here than you might expect elsewhere, it's because they pay fair wages here and don't expect their workers to rely on tips, which should be the norm. I do not mind paying more for fair working conditions and think that should be the norm and expected everywhere, but I do expect my food to taste on par with that level as well, which is where I think Immigrant Food is lacking in our meal. Because I don't live in the DC area, I don't know that I would be willing to try this spot out again next time and have it occupy one of the limited meal options I'd have available on a trip there. But I do believe that Immigrant Food has the potential to carry more delicious dishes than what we tried, that just unfortunately wasn't what I experienced. Additional notes: They have a constantly rotating menu that showcases different cuisines from all over the world, which is always lovely. Also, there is a 4% wellness charge on top of each bill, just as an FYI. Another thing that I don't mind and they state it on their menu as you are perusing what to order so you know from the beginning of your experience there. read more

Immigrant Food - Immigrant Food+ at the Planet Word museum - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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