Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Mitsitam Cafe

    3.5 (572 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Cafes
    Open 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Mitsitam Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    MITSITAM CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Mitsitam Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Roger Renzo R.

    I went to this Cafe 15 minutes before it closed, but the staff was really nice. This was my first time trying this native American food, and the taste was similar to Mexican, but with some modifications in the spices they used. The place seemed clean, and with a lot of seats available.

    Linnea E.

    Best dining option on the Mall! Museum prices but you get your moneys worth and there are actually good options, not just chicken nuggets and pizza. Everything is served cafeteria style with multiple stations serving different options. The fry bread taco is my personal fave and sometimes I'll swing by just to have it for lunch and then walk through the museum. The dining area is also very nice with a view of the outdoor water feature. It also tends to be less crowded than say the Museum of National History which typically has more kids and families.

    Fry Bread Beignets
    Antwon C.

    We decided to check out this cafe for a late lunch before heading to museum. I decided to go with the chicken tostada. The chicken was flavorful and all the toppings were crisp and fresh. The crema complimented the dish well. For dessert tried the fry bread beignets they were good the honey was good with them. Service was good.

    Jai Y.

    I had the chicken mole tostada, apple agua fresca, corn pudding , and succotash. My wife had the fried bread taco. Everything was extremely delicious except the apple agua fresca which was meh. It tasted water downed and pretty flavorless.

    Fry bread taco
    Sharon L.

    Try out some native american foods at this café inside the National Museum of the American Indian. The fry bread taco, mole tostada, and cornbread were all pretty tasty. A good place for lunch on the National Mall while exploring Smithsonian museums. The café is cafeteria style: grab a tray, head to a station and order your food, then checkout at the register before finding a table to sit down. Complete cafeteria experience by placing the tray on the tray carousel when finished!

    3 side sampler
    Lynn W.

    The food was very tasty in this cafeteria style restaurant within the Smithsonian American Indian Museum. The menu features indigenous meals are there is a wide variety of offerings. There are different stations with different types of food so it was perfect for a large group of people to each get what they wanted to eat. I tried the three side sampler (which was quite affordable at $12.95). I chose buttered squash salad, marinated mushrooms and Indian Pudding. The pudding was amazing with a cranberry sauce on top. I had never eaten that before but always wondered what was in it. It is like a cornbread cake. It is self serve but the manager was great about opening up a new checkout line when the line was getting long.

    Chili Special and Peach Frybread
    Tom P.

    As museum restaurants go, this is in the top tier in the district. They offer an array of Native American inspired foods along with some Southern and Mexican foods. I like that they go out of their way to offer more flavor than the plain vanilla options at most of the Smithsonian's. And although you are in a dining hall, it is comfortable with some nice windowed views of the outside water features. Lastly, and maybe it was just the day I was there, EVERYONE in the museum was so nice. From the guards at the door, to the information attendants, to the service staff in the restaurant. Very nice people.

    Vegetarian tamale was so good.
    Amy Lauren S.

    I visited this museum JUST to eat at Mitsitam café when I was in the district for a conference. It was a very cold day, so indoor dining was my only option, and I wanted a food item that I can't normally get back home. I had a calabaza, sweet onion, and toasted pepitas tamale with ranchera sauce, which was vegetarian. I appreciated vegetarian options that were marked. The tamale was warm and flavorful, although the portions are a little small for the price points. Since I was supporting the Smithsonian and the museums are free to enter, I was fine paying a little extra than I'm used to. Some food options like tamales, fry bread tacos, tostadas, stews, and bison may be a little exotic for little ones, but you can get a regular hamburger, cheeseburger, or packaged snack items. If you're an adult, Mitsitam is the best food you will find at any of nearby the Smithsonian museums. If you want to refill your water bottle or get a cup of water, there's a fountain/refill station on the way out of the restaurant.

    Mischa J.

    I recently came here and tried Native American food for the first time. I had the fry bread taco with braised pork and okra. The dish I had was also topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, shredded jack cheese, cilantro, and jalapenos. I thought that everything I tried was great! I just wish that there would be more Native inspired drinks as well. For dessert I had the Mitsitam cookie, which was made with Native inspired ingredients, like blue cornmeal for example. I highly recommend giving this place a try, because this is the only Native American eatery, restaurant, and food court that I have personally ever come across in the area.

    Bison sausage
    Doug P.

    Service is good. Employees were very friendly. The atmosphere is nice. They have some interesting food choices. I really enjoyed the Buffalo sausage but would pass on the sauerkraut next time. My wife had the chicken tenders and they were excellent with a generous serving of French fries

    Michelle V.

    Had the chance to try indigenous food here before exploring the museum. It's been on my bucket list for a long time, so I was very excited. You pick your own drinks and snacks cafeteria-style, and there are four menus to which you can order food over-the-counter. I recommend walking around to see your options before ordering. The seating area feels like a cafeteria. I sat by the window to see the beautiful fountain. I got the roasted rainbow beets (with watercress, charred leeks, and hazelnut vinaigrette), corn pudding (with maple butter and walnut-and-cranberry gremolata), and mamoon cakes. I was initially going to get wild rice salad instead of the beets, but the person behind the counter told me that the wild rice salad is pretty much disassembled mamoon cakes and encouraged me to get something else. Rainbow beets: I'm a huge fan of beets, and their natural flavor was delicious, complemented by the leeks and the slightly sweet vinaigrette. Corn pudding: This was hearty. The gremolata was very tart and I would recommend eating it little by little so it doesn't overpower the corn pudding. Felt like a flatter cornbread. Mamoon cake: This was dry, kind of like a biscuit. It is compact wild rice. It had a savory flavor. I kind of wish I got this with the salmon. It was tasty although I wish I could try it hot and fresh. Overall this was a filling meal that jumpstarted my day. I will try other things if I came back, and I would look forward to seeing the rotating menu!

    Mary C.

    I had heard the Mitsitam Cafe was one of the better museum cafeterias, but I really don't think it's worth going to at all :( Even if you are starving, go elsewhere (like a food truck!) As expected for museum food, it was VERY pricey (like $4 for a teeny tiny corn muffin, or $20+ for anything substantial, this 3 sides combo option was over $15...) and the food is very mediocre, borderline bad. We got the kale which was cold, the wild rice which was also cold, and the sweet potato cake (the only thing that was warm) but also flavorless

    Peruvian Chicken, Wild Mushroom Salad
    Chelsea C.

    One of the few places you can actually get native food in the area, and it happens to be in a great museum. Its also probably one of the best cafes in the whole Smithsonian branch because you can see the attention to regional specificity they alot to their exhibitions and collections. Here, there is a wide breadth of interpretation when it comes to what is native food, but leaning into more earthy flavors is pretty much the way to go. There is a wide variety of offerings to suit anyone's palette. Since its in a federal building, they probably cannot get too experimental with their sourcing and ingredients but the spirit of this being a Native-style cafe is unlike a lot of after cafeteria spots so I'll take it. Fry bread is not common on a menu so we made the order, and it was good, topped very similar to a taco salad. The Peruvian chicken I got was a bit cold, but well seasoned and flavorful with the cilantro sauce it came with.

    See all

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fred K.
    6
    41
    13

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emeric C.
    482
    69
    22

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kyle C.
    71
    34
    15

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K H.
    0
    95
    0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rosie D.
    148
    65
    35

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeremy M.
    24
    80
    35

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Katy G.
    6
    54
    18

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Earl G.
    17
    220
    10

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J. D.
    0
    264
    0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Food is way overpriced. Plus it's not good and served cold. Do NOT go there! It's a trap.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ray S.
    4
    41
    0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Fresh and interesting Native American foods. Amazing and probably best food near mall

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anja P.
    0
    46
    19

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Judy C.
    1
    34
    10

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    The best museum restaurant for healthy and unique food. Although a bit pricey, it is definitely worth it.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bee B.
    0
    186
    1

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Roger S.
    2
    26
    293

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    It's a little pricier for food court but the food is amazing. My fave: wild rice with watercress and the lobster cauliflower mash.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kotaro H.
    172
    11
    0

    16 years ago

    Inside a cafe is good atmosphere with worm colors. Food was a little oily.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 12 of 15

    Ask the Community - Mitsitam Cafe

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for American 12,188 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Unconventional Diner - Tip-Top Chop

    Unconventional Diner

    4.4(3.4k reviews)
    1.3 miShaw, Downtown
    $$

    Excellent and loved the sopa criolla! So many great brunch options. Clean, good service and good…read morelocation.

    A group of four of us went here for dinner after searching for a while. We had a tough group to…read moresatisfy-a picky eater whose isn't adventurous and just wants Taco Bell all the time, a self proclaimed foodie who likes to seek out the Michelin star restaurants but actually isn't as adventurous in trying new foods as he thinks he is (hopefully he doesn't see this post haha), another who is willing to try most things but is also happy just eating low key and doesn't like to spend money, and then there's me who wants to try new things, willing to spend a little to try it and is happy going with the flow too. Thankfully we ended up at the Unconventional Diner and it was perfect for satisfying everyone in the group!! We were all able to get tasty drinks- from n/a Hibiscus Citrus lemonade, white wine, a cinnamon toast old fashioned (what? A cereal inspired old fashioned, yes please and it was fantastic!), and a Bourbon basil smash. Then the crew settled on some food-the waiter was patient with the questions and contemplation from the table (thank you!). We started with the SKILLET CORNBREAD with Habanero Honey Butter | Sea Salt (v) And that was melt in your mouth cornbread. Damn. Real cornbread seems hard to come by any more and this is the real deal. And the honey butter and flake sea salt-can't go wrong. I'm a spice weeny-for reals-and this was incredible. It's a MUST get. Across the table we had two of the double cheese burgers (I warned, we have a lack of adventurous eaters) -and they both said the burgers were the best they've had. I had the Philly French double dip, with horseradish cream and caramelized onions-so fantastic-the roast beef was melt in your mouth and the broth was the perfect saltiness. Our fourth got the fried chicken sandwich and really loved the dill pickle slaw that came with it, and the chicken was not over cooked and not raw-perfect! We all had fries with our meals, the thinner kind with light seasoning and none of us could stop eating them, even when we were clearly full, the fries just kept disappearing.

    Photos
    Unconventional Diner - Space is large, bright, and contemporary.  Reservations recommended.

    Space is large, bright, and contemporary. Reservations recommended.

    Unconventional Diner - Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

    Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

    Unconventional Diner - Lebanese Fried Rice

    See all

    Lebanese Fried Rice

    Willowsong - Hamachi Tartare

    Willowsong

    4.2(45 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    First off: this is no longer the Moon Rabbit restaurant. I never remembered the name. Only the…read morelocation. And the bunny logo. That restaurant moved to Penn Quarter a year ago and it's been about 4 years since I last went. I didn't even think I was in a new restaurant until I couldn't find the gold rabbit logo. The interior of the two restaurants is similar enough and having rolls with salmon roe topping your honey miso butter is not far off from what you might have found eating a fried chicken dish with a subtle Vietnamese twist at Moon Rabbit. The concept of WillowSong is nothing new: farm-to-table. But the flavors are beyond what we could of expected! The waiter explained how the chefs source their food from farms within a certain geographical radius. I definitely recommend a visit here for a special dinner that will leave you wanting to come back. The house made milk bread was served piping hot. The aroma - as I picked one roll up - was so indicative of bread you knew you were going to enjoy. The honey miso butter was not typical, and I loved it. It had a citrusy aftertaste and was not too sweet. I didn't eat the salmon roe - mentioned earlier topping the honey miso butter - but it was an interesting juxtaposition. The Squid Ink Oricchiette - black elbow pasta - was lovely. I asked the waiter, "Which is more popular here, the sea bass or the oricchiette?" He confidently said that if he had to choose, it would be the oricchiette and the Yelp reviews say the same. There was an inherent subtle heat and the jumbo lump crab meat was tasty. The squid ink pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the tomato jus herb crumble was well-seasoned. The micro greens garnish added such a nice, crisp crunch. The citrus olive oil ricotta - underneath of the pasta - had a good balancing effect. The grilled maple citrus pork chop - when featured - is a not-to-miss! The flavors were divine. You got the sweetness of the maple sauce and a really nice sear with the char-grilled aftertaste. Just the kind of flavor I look for. Cutting into the pork chop was easy as it was so tender. All of the herb and vegetable flavors in the charred gratin (Swiss chard simmered in a creamy garlic sauce) really came together for something delightful. The Swiss chard was cooked well, yet had a good crunch with a definite farm-to-table flavor, straight from the garden. We were here on a weekend night. A rowdier after-9pm crowd formed for a televised game. I've seen it much busier here on weeknights at Moon Rabbit, before 9pm, and the waiter said the crowds here are similar. I liked that it was more bustling on the boardwalk and calmer inside of this restaurant, before the sporting event crowd around the bar. There are so many restaurants to choose from at the Wharf, and many of them are packed and touristy. When you step inside of WillowSong, there is no crowding and the environment is calm. I would next like to try the Hamache Tartar. It is made with chili oil, preserved lemon, scallion, cashew, Eva's Garden mouse melon, serrano and cilantro. The staff said the breakfasts at WillowSong are very popular and are from 9am to 1pm. Cornmeal pancakes? Hello. Look at the Yelp photos to see the breakfast offering deliciousness at WillowSong. If the birthday dessert that we enjoyed was any indication, I would have to believe him. It was a chocolate brownie-like pastry with granola and graham crust, flowers and fruit. The dark chocolate ganache was decadent. This was a hazelnut dessert which I would have never ordered because I find the flavor overpowering. They kindly surprised us by bringing out a dessert they chose, with a lit candle and singing. I was so glad that the hazelnut flavor was subtle and that it did not taste like a Nutella dessert. The birthday dessert was subtlety-flavored with hazelnut but chocolatey and rich, otherwise. I think there was oatmeal or granola in it. This was a decadent experience. Love that the restaurant has margaritas and sangrias on draught. In the sangria you can find: mango purée, white wine, apple brandy and soda water. Would love to try, next time. As much as I love the Vietnamese fusion fare at Moon Rabbit, I was equally as delighted with the more global dining experience at WillowSong. And the lovely, warm service.

    Unassuming and delicious!…read more Food - everything we got was cooked well and large portion size. Calamari was fresh and crispy. Duck Ragu was interesting. Squid ink pasta was prob my favorite great flavors. The new sweet potato appetizer was refreshing and birthday slice a nice surprise. Service- they took great care of us. Very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and restaurant concepts. The chef came and chatted with us. Drinks- espresso martini was nice and wine solid Vibes- decor was simple and classy. Nice patio on wharfs Main Street. Happy hour- solid food and drink offerings at a decent price

    Photos
    Willowsong - Old fashioned

    Old fashioned

    Willowsong - Yummy 'birthday' cheesecake

    Yummy 'birthday' cheesecake

    Willowsong - Outside

    See all

    Outside

    The Salt Line - Oysters

    The Salt Line

    3.9(853 reviews)
    1.3 miNavy Yard
    $$

    Outside Bar. Service was great. Bartenders (Alexia great Ink & Jason) were friendly, smiles every…read moresingle customer. Fish Sandwich was really tiny but with Fries or Greens It was really good. Decided to order the Waterman's Catch(table behind me had ordered it OMG) Best thing about it, the Cole Slaw. It has a vinegar base. So good. Everything was fried hard hard hard batter peeled off( order not so hard) Comes with Fish(only had small piece fried so dark dark brown) 4 Scallops but there were 3 tiny pieces of deep fried crusty something that we thought tasted like Calamari. Subbed out Oysters for extra Shrimp. A lot of Shrimp, batter peeled right off so that was good for dipping in the Cocktail Sauce. Fries were ok. Order with Fish Sandwich we're so much better. Great price for $$. Good Music. Great view. Lots of laughs throughout bar. Would be good bar for Drinks and try the Baked Pimento Crab Tip...next time.

    The Salt Line, Washington DC (Navy Yard)…read more Scoping out the Navy Yard, trying to find a restaurant for the six of us on the Wednesday that Bruce Springsteen was performing at Nationals Stadium, I spent the prior Sunday at The Salt Line (which is about a 10-minute walk to the stadium). I was there during brunch service and found a menu that covered a lot of bases. My main interest was seeing if they still offered fried clam bellies, a rarity in the D.C. restaurant scene. Nope, no bellies, but on offer under the brunch appetizers were Stuffies (three baked top neck clams, smoked linguica, lemon, breadcrumbs, house hot sauce, $13), along with more traditional starters, including clam chowder ($7 cup, $12 bowl), fried calamari (roasted garlic pomodoro sauce, fried cherry peppers & artichoke, lemon, $15). I ended up ordering the North Shore Roast Beef sandwich (horseradish cream, BBQ sauce, American cheese, onion roll, with fries, $19). More than enough for brunch and lunch the following day. Service was good, and the meal was excellent. Note the Salt Line's transparency, where it explains that "DC restaurants have been operating with dynamic and significant increases in labor wages, food costs, and the general cost of doing business in DC. We have chosen to implement a 4% operational surcharge - which does not go towards gratuity - as the most comprehensive way to address this." Seems to me to strike a decent balance, but I'm not all that up to date about the living wage issue in the services industry. In any event I respect The Salt Line's management for being up front about their surcharge policy.

    Photos
    The Salt Line - SHRIMP COCKTAIL

    SHRIMP COCKTAIL

    The Salt Line - Crab Roll with crispy Brussels sprouts substituted

    Crab Roll with crispy Brussels sprouts substituted

    The Salt Line - Restaurant View

    See all

    Restaurant View

    matchbox

    matchbox

    4.1(587 reviews)
    0.6 miPenn Quarter
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Kid friendly

    Matchbox is undefeated to me! I've had so many occasions here for their brunch because it's just…read moreworth it! This time I came in for their lunch special and met my cousin to catch up. Parking for me was pretty easy as I found street parking right in front of the restaurant, my cousin parked in the garage. This matchbox is pretty big and it was decorated really nice. We were seated immediately for lunch and our server assisted us with the lunch options. I chose the mushroom pizza and soup. And my cousin had apple pear and soup of the day. For the $14.99 price it was worth it we had pizza left to take home. Pizza * Margherita * Pepperoni & Hot Honey * Fig & Prosciutto * Truffle + Wild Mushroom * Chicken Pesto Salad * Simple Salad * Caesar Salad * Apple Pear Salad Soup * Cream of Crab Soup * Soup of the Day

    Service is fantastic! Ambiance is a sporty vibe, fun-filled,…read moregood for groups. Food is okay. For $34 All-You-Can-Eat Brunch and the opportunity to sample EVERYTHING, yes, you read that right, EVERYTHING, on the menu, within 2-hours, is a steal and downright criminal...but you won't be arrested, just FULL! For an additional $25, you can have All-You-Can-Eat Drinks. You can choose from Bloody Mary's, Strawberry Lemonade Margaritas, Peach Bellinis, Old Fashions, again, robbery. They keep the food and drinks coming. We sampled everything from the Pesto Chicken Pizza. Small sized vs personal. Fried Chicken Wings come with either Old Bay, Mambo Sauce or Buffalo. Can't go wrong with either. You get about 4 in the sample. Catfish is fried and seasoned to perfection. Comes with a side of bland and our initial serving was cold grits, as if they were pre-plated. The portion is about 2 full tablespoons, in a miniature 2.5 oz. stainless steel sauce round. Steak and eggs with potatoes is a slivered serving of steak, cooked to your doneness but unseasonably and tough. Eggs scrambled with Cheddar. Potatoes were small round home fries. 3, 6, 9 Burgers are Beef Sliders topped with a mound of shoestring Onion Rings. You can choose between a leg or breast for their Chicken & Waffle. The Waffle's, two (2) pieces of one (1) half (2 quarter pieces.) There's SO MUCH to choose from. We didn't even get to the Pancakes and French Toast offerings. Again, you have two (2) hours to Eat ALL You Can. In, the words of my Beloved grandmother, "Don't let your eyes become bigger than your stomach." Good for groups and those who are budget-conscious, who want to maximize their entire experience.

    Photos
    matchbox
    matchbox
    matchbox

    See all

    Mitsitam Cafe - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...